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RUST 



RUST 



A FLAT IN FOUR ACTS 



BY 

ALGERNON TASSIN 




BROADWAY PUBLISHING CO. 

835 BROADWAY 
NEW YORK 






Copyright, 1911, 

BY 

ALGERNON TASSIN 



ENTERED AT STATIONER S HALL, LONDON. 

All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign 
languages, including the Scandinavian 



©CI.D 2\\HH 



PERSONS 

A Waiter. 

Colonel Harrington Dodd. 

Mrs. Bradley-Stone, 

Judith Allison. 

Nicholas Allison. 

Sam Bradley-Stone. 

Jessica Ewing. 

Miss Ewing. 

Barney Martini. 

Time; — The Present. 



ACT ONE 



RUST 



ACT I. 

{The men's room in the Pequot Country Club, 
Connecticut. The back gives on a piazza, 
which is seen from three large windows, 
reaching almost to the floor and through a 
screen door, which is the last opening on 
the right. In the left wall front is a large 
doorway leading into the hall. There are 
several small tables scattered over the room, 
together with cane-seated chairs and an oc- 
casional wicker arm-chair. At the table 
toward the left zuall, stands a desk phone. 

By the table near center window Colonel Har- 
rington DoDD is reading the Sunday news- 
paper, and various sheets of it lie scattered 
about him. He is a man of Hfty-iive years 
of age, grizzled, wiry, and tanned, and of 
soldierly bearing. He is dressed carefully 
and entirely in white. His movements are 
marked by lithe precision and clear-cutness 
— not too professional and suggestive of 
the man of the world as well as the oMcer. 
His tone is habitually dry and quizzical in 
spite of the equally habitual but faint hint 
of pathos in his manner. A waiter is -filling 
the match boxes on the tables, gathering up 

9 



RUST 

the traces of last nighfs occupancy, and put- 
ting the room to rights.) 

Dodd: Rather quiet here. 

Waiter : Nobody in till afternoon, sir, as a 
general thing. On Sundays. 

Dodd : Late, Saturday nights ? 

Waiter : Yes, sir. All the week-enders, you 
see. And the commuters don't have to catch a 
train this morning. (He takes out the old box 
of matches on D odd's table and inserts a fresh 
one.) 

Dodd (Rising) : I'm in your way, I guess. 
(He starts towards screen door and stops) It's 
a bit fresh for the first of June. I'll go across 
the hall. (He starts left.) 

Waiter : That's the ladies' room, sir. No 
men allowed. Almost done, sir. 

Dodd : You might bring the cigar tray. 

Waiter: Yes, sir. (He starts to go.) 

Dodd: Wait a minute. (Taking out his pipe) 
Pipes permitted in this club? 

Waiter: (Hesitating, with a smile) Here 
— in the men's room, sir. 

Dodd (Quizzically, seeing something in his 
manner) : No ladies allowed? 

Waiter : This is the men's room, sir. But 
the ladies go everywhere. Billiard room, card 
room 

Dodd: Hum! (He has been tilling his pipe, 
and now lights it) See if there's any mail for 
me. Colonel Harrington Dodd. (He resumes 
his seat at the table.) 

10 



RUST 

Waiter: Beg pardon, sir. As you've just 
come, sir, your mail will be in your host's box. 
Dodd: Look under Kinglake then. 
Waiter: Kinglake? Beg pardon, sir. But 
I don't think there's any such name on the mem- 
bership list, sir. 

Dodd: What? Of course there is. You 
must be new here. 

Waiter: Have you your two weeks' card, 
sir? 

Dodd {Whimsically, as he gets his card) : 
Don't you suppose I know my host's name ? See 
for yourself. Judith — Bless my soul, I forgot 
she'd been married two years ! I apologize. 
Mrs. Allison. 

Waiter: Allison! {With alacrity) Oh, yes, 
sir. rU see, sir. 
{He goes. . At the door he stands aside for Mrs. 

Eradley-Stone, who enters. 
She is a fashionably dressed woman of thirty, 
somewhat artificial and fast-looking. She 
seems always curbing a restless superficial 
energy, and under its rather pleasing sur- 
face play, she shows glimpses of a nature 
both jaded and hard. An engaging, me- 
chanical smile is her chief social equipment. 
This, it develops, she employs to cover a 
decided impertinence of speech. At any 
suggestion of her club activities, she as- 
' sumes at once the crisp managing manner 
which an initiation into the mysteries of 
parliamentary procedure and the possibility 
II 



RUST 

of having at any time to take the chair, have 
imparted to the contemporary society 
zvoman. 
As the waiter stands aside to let her pass, she 
turns for a moment to speak to him — having 
seen ID odd smoking his pipe.) 
Mrs. B. : A pipe ! He's not a member, is he ? 
Waiter: No, madam. 
Mrs. B. : Did he ask if he might? 
Waiter {Reluctantly) : Yes, madam. 
Mrs. B. {Severely) : And you told him! 
Waiter: Yes, madam. The rule hasn't 
been changed yet, has it? 

Mrs. B. : Why didn't you tell him that some 
people objected? 

Waiter : He didn't ask me, madam. 
{She turns away impatiently and he exits left. 
She goes up and stands near window, casu- 
ally eyeing him. Then she sits and coughs 
slightly. ) 
DoDD {Looking up from his paper) : Pardon 
me. I hope smoking is not objectionable to you ? 
Mrs. B. {Pleasantly, but with a meaning in- 
fection) : Smoking? Not at all. 
Dodd: My pipe? 

Mrs. B. : Well {She smiles engagingly.) 

DoDD : I beg your pardon. I thought 

{He rises and walks to door.) 
Mrs. B.: Oh, no! Please! 

DoDD {Affably) : But if it is annoying 

Mrs. B. : Not as a pipe but as a principle. 
That is, here — inside. 

12 



RUST 

Dodd: I see. But on the veranda, perhaps. 
Neither as a principle nor as a pipe. 

Mrs. B. (Smiling Hirtatiously) : You think 
I'm quite horrid. 

DoDD : No, if you don't think I'm too inquisi- 
tive for a guest. I understood that in the men's 
room 



Mrs. B. : At present, yes. Until the meeting 
of the new Board of Directors. 

Dodd: I see. There is a minority sentiment 
against it. 

Mrs. B. : Minorities become majorities. 

Dodd: If carefully jockeyed. 

Mrs. B. : Well, I (She smiles.) 

Dodd: I see. And you expect to be repre- 
sented on the New Board? 

Mrs. B. : Yes. How you do put two and 
two together. 

Dodd: You help to support this club, don't 
you ? Then why not get a woman on the Board ? 

Mrs. B. (Triumphantly) : Going to at the 
next election. We fought every inch of the 
way, but we won at last. 

Dodd: And you? 

Mrs. B. : I'm running. 

Dodd : Good ! I hope you'll win. I like to 
see women claim their rights. 

Mrs. B. : Now don't think I'm one of those 
horrid women's rights women. Just because I 
have principles against a pipe. 

Dodd (Gallantly) : But only in the men's 
room, not on the veranda. 

13 



RUST 

Mrs. B. (Glibly) : Home is the woman's 
sphere. It unsexes her to compete with men. 

Dodd: Then you're not running against a 
man? 

Mrs. B. : Oh, no ; I wouldn't think of such 
a thing. Against another woman. She's a dear 
friend of mine. 

Dodd : But she'll be harder to beat than a 
man. Have you planned a campaign ? 

Mrs. B. : I never dined so much at home in 
my life. In four weeks I've had every man in 
this club to dinner. 

Dodd : Dear me, then it's a question of cooks. 
(In reply to her look) Of course she feeds them, 
too. 

Mrs. B. : No, she doesn't go in for entertain- 
ing. That's where I have the bit on her. 

Dodd: What's her bait? 

Mrs. B. : I wish I knew. She doesn't feed 
them. She doesn't fool them, she doesn't flirt 
with them. (She smiles engagingly) She doesn't 
seem to be doing anything. But I'm afraid she's 
landing them just the same. I sort of feel she's 
a born organizer. 

Dodd : Who is this low scheming politician ? 

Mrs. B. : Mrs. Nicholas Allison. 

Dodd: Dear me, I'm hobnobbing in the en- 
emy's camp! 

Mrs. B. : You know her ? 

Dodd : She gave me my two weeks card. 
Besides, she's going to feed me. At lunch to- 
day. 

14 



RUST 

Mrs. B. : And me, too. 
Dodd: Indeed? My name is Dodd. 
Mrs. B. (Shaking hands) : Mine is Mrs. 
Bradley- Stone. How do you do, Mr. Dodd? 
Enemy ! 

Dodd: Dear me, I'm not a member. 
Mrs. B. : You will be. Here's Mrs. Allison 
now. (Calling outside) Good morning. 
(Judith, having passed the windows, enters by 
the veranda door. She is a younger woman 
than Mrs. Bradley-Stone, with a self-pos- 
sessed, quiet manner in zvhich there is some 
hint of repression — a critic might call it 
even Hstlessness. Though young, hand- 
some, and exquisitely gowned, she has an 
air of not responding vitally to the life 
around her.) 
Judith : Good morning. ( Coming to Dodd 
with delight) It's — it's Uncle Harry, isn't it? 

Dodd (Taking her outstretched hands) : 
Judy! 

Judith : Where's your moustache ? Other- 
wise you haven't changed a bit in five years. 
Dodd : Hope not at my age. You have. 
Judith : I should hope I might. The gawky 
thing I was at twenty! 

Dodd: But now that I look you over, I 
should have known you anywhere. You have 
your father's eyes — just the same. 

Judith : Just the same. And may I still 
call you Uncle Harry? 

Dodd ; If you let me call you Judy. 

15 



RUST 

Judith : Do. It makes me think of father. 
(Turning) Oh, Mrs. Bradley-Stone. Colonel 
Dodd. He's just back from China. 

Mrs. B. : We are intimate friends. But you 
never told me you were Colonel. 

DoDD : Dear me ! Well, you see, I've been 
retired for five years. 

Mrs. B. : Five years, at your age? Non- 
sense ! 

Judith (Hastily breaking in, as if avoiding 
an awkivardness) : You got my last note? 
You're stopping at the hotel? Didn't I tell you 
how nice it was around here? 

Mrs. B. (Sweetly) : Are you thinking of 
staying here for the summer. Colonel ? 

DoDD : I haven't been. But if Judith's planned 
it and wants me, I suppose I'll shake down into it. 
(Pinching her chin fondly) I learned long ago 
it was best to knuckle under at once with this 
young lady. 

Judith : As if anybody could make you budge 
an inch! How do you like the club? Nice little 
joint, isn't it? 

Mrs. B. (Sweetly) : I told you you would be 
a member of it. 

Judith (Sweetly) : You did? How did you 
guess? 

Mrs. B. : I can read the Colonel like a book 
already. Can't I, Colonel? (She laughs.) 

Judith (Not liking her proprietary air) : Oh! 
(To Dodd) Smoke, won't you? How I'd love 
to see that pipe I used to fill for you. 

i6 



RUST 

DoDD {Pleased) : You remember? I fished 
it out on purpose. {He takes it out.) 

Judith {Taking it) : How it takes me back. 
I can see you and father now. Like two friendly 
locomotives in a row. Puffing — snorting — let- 
ling off steam. 

DoDD : As irreverent as ever ! 

Judith : Filled, too. Here ! {Handing it back 
to him) It will seem like old times to smell that 
pipe again. {Mischievously, for Mrs. B.'s bene- 
fit) Nothing vague or uncertain about the odor 
of that pipe, Mrs. Bradley-Stone. {She gets a 
match from the match box.) Just as I used to 
do when I was ten. 

DoDD {Looking at Mrs, B.) : Well — er — 
shan't we go out on the veranda ? 

Judith : Nonsense, this is the men's room. 
The poor dears smoke their pipes in here. Don't 
they, Mrs. Bradley-Stone? 

Mrs. B. {Sweetly) : Some of them. Until 
the meeting of the new Board of Directors. 

Judith : And perhaps afterwards. Even if 
we 

Mrs. B.: We? 

Judith : They. 

Mrs. B.: I thought you were a little pre- 
vious. 

Judith : Even if they have to make a new 
rule. No ladies allowed in the men's room. 

Mrs. B. : No ladies allowed ! Why, my hus- 
band would live here. I could never get at him. 
I'll leave the club first ! 

17 



RUST 

DoDD : Ladies, ladies ! Let there be no blood 
shed. 

Judith : Poor dears, they ought to have 
some place to themselves. The women have. 

Mrs. B. : That's different. Besides, it's no 
argument — they are never in it. 

Judith : Nevertheless, they have one, and 
the men can't go in there. 

Mrs. B. : But that isn't the point just now. 
Judith (Sweetly but irritatingly) : What is? 
Mrs. B. : I thought there was something. 
Since you weren't feeding them. So that's your 
campaign, is it? 

Judith (Sweetly) : Isn't it a good one? 
Come on. Uncle Harry. (She strikes the match.) 
Mrs. B. : Colonel ! I'll buy you a cigar ! 
Dodd: Ladies, this is a pipe of peace. So I 
won't smoke it. (He blows out the match and 
pinches Judith's chin.) Especially as I'm to be 
a member here. You rogue of a politician. 
Getting a vote like that. 

Judith : Hush ! Here's Nicholas. He's not 
to know yet. 

Mrs. B. (Looking interested) : Not to know? 
(Nicholas enters by left. He is a serious and 
prosperous-looking business man of forty. 
He is eminently correct, conservative, and 
conscientious, according to family traditions 
of long standing — a machine-made charac- 
ter equally without stain and unthout color; 
but a pleasant and honorable gentleman, 
who — as he takes himself very seriously and 
i8 



RUST 

never doubts the propriety of his ideas — 
has succeeded very young in life. His ene- 
mies would call him a prig; his friends, a 
tower of strength. He is neither one nor 
the other, only a man who somewhat per- 
sistently pursues the usual ideals of good 
form along the track beaten out for him by 
his forbears, and consequently one who 
prides himself on his breadth of view and 
liberality. This latter he shows by well- 
bred tolerance of other people's notions and 
an indidgent condescension which betrays 
that to him they appear childish. But he is 
without pomposity or pretense, his manners 
are simple and genuine, and his bearing to- 
ward his wife has a marked affectionate- 
ness.) 
Nicholas: Good morning, Mrs. Bradley- 
Stone. 

Judith : Nicholas, here is the Colonel. 
Uncle Harry, my husband. 

Nicholas (Shaking hands cordially) : How 
do you do? Judith tells me you were the idol 
of her girlhood. 

Dodd: Yes, I never spanked her but once. 
Judith : Tattle-tale. Don't tell my husband 
that or he might try it himself. It's hard enough 
as it is to convince him I've grown up. 

Nicholas : By the way, Mrs. Bradley- Stone. 
Where were you going to pick up your hus- 
band? 

Mrs. B. : He's going to pick me up. 

19 



RUST 

Nicholas: Good! We are lunching here 
instead of at the house. 

Judith : Nicholas ! 

Nicholas: My dear, I discharged the cook 
last night. 

Mrs. B. : That splendid cook ! 

Judith: Last night? (Concealing her an- 
noyance) And you never told me! 

Nicholas (Affectionately) : I didn't want to 
bother you, dear. 

Judith : But what about Miss Ewing and 
Jessica ? 

Nicholas: I telephoned Miss Ewing. She 
and her niece will join us here. 

Judith (Turning to the others) : Very well, 
I will see what they can do for us. 

Nicholas : No need to trouble, my dear. I 
have already ordered. It's a little surprise. 

Judith (Forcing a laugh) : Yes, it is a sur- 
prise. Mrs. Bradley-Stone, Mr. Allison has no 
doubt ordered you the best luncheon he could 
get. 

Mrs. B. (With her mechanical smile) : Oh, 
we shan't starve! I'm only sorry I'm dining out 
to-night, or you could come to me for dinner. 
Two meals in one day at the club, you know. 

Judith (Dryly) : Yes. 

Mrs. B. : Isn't it a pity, Mr. Allison, Judith 
doesn't go out more? 

Nicholas: I wish you could persuade her. 
(To Judith) Never mind, dear. I sent the 
housekeeper to town at once for another one. 

20 



RUST 

Judith : That's where she was this morning, 
then ! (To Dodd) Fortunately, Uncle Harry, we 
shall have some sort of dinner to-night. The 
maid can cook. 

Nicholas: My dear, I'm very sorry. She 
came to me after breakfast and was as impudent 
as the cook. 

Judith {Blankly) : You discharged her? 

Nicholas (Impe.rturbably) : I could do noth- 
ing else. 

Judith (Conquering her growing irritation) : 
Well, Uncle Harry, your first meal at my house 
will remind you of old times. You won't feel 
bad if you have to eat one of my messes again, 
will you? 

DoDD (With conviction) : Nothing like one 
of Judith's stews, is there, Mr. Allison? She 
can squeeze more juice out of a bone than any 
cook this side of France. 

Nicholas (Smiling) : That's an accomplish- 
ment I never heard of, Judith. 

Judith (Coldly) : You never gave me the 
chance. (To Dodd) No, Nicholas doesn't be- 
lieve in my cooking. Or doing anything else. 
I'm for ornament only. 

Mrs. B. (Cattily) : I'm sure it's lovely of him 
to relieve you of all bother. Fancy my husband 
being interested in household affairs. 

Judith : He's not interested in household af- 
fairs, Mrs. Bradley-Stone. He's interested in 
me. 

DoDD (Making another attempt to ease mat- 

21 



RUST 

ters) : And as for omelets ! All I can say is 
you'll be glad you bounced the cook tonight. 

Nicholas : Some other night, perhaps. This 
evening we are all motoring over to the beach. 

Judith : This evening ! But Well, 

Uncle Harry. And I wanted you to spend your 
first day with us. 

Nicholas : Oh, we'll run over for tea. 

DoDD : Judy, how far away do you live ? 

Judith : About two miles. 

DoDD (Eager to drazv her away, pointing out 
of ivindoiv) : Over there ? 

Judith : No, the Sound is that way. On this 
side. There's a place where you can just see 
the chimneys between the trees. {They go out 
on the veranda and pass the windows out of 
sight. ) 

Mrs. B. : Mr. Allison, I think Judith is a 
very lucky woman. Sometimes I wonder if she 
knows it. 

Nicholas: She had enough bothering about 
the house when she was younger. 

Mrs. B. : But you know after all it isn't sup- 
posed to be a man's business. 

Nicholas {Laughing) : Heavens, don't think 
I'm always discharging cooks and maids ! I 
only happened to be around this time. We have 
the best housekeeper money will buy. I'm glad 
to say that between the two of us we relieve 
Mrs. Allison of everything. 

Mrs. B. : I wish you'd talk to Sam and show 



22 



RUST 

him how to treat a lady. Now you're a model 
husband. 

Nicholas: Thank you. 

Mrs. B. (After looking out of the window) : 
Of course I can expect a model husband to be 
on my side. 

Nicholas: You're not divorcing Sam? 

Mrs. B. : No such luck. {After glancing 
out again) Are you pipe or anti-pipe? 

Nicholas: I shan't vote. 

Mrs. B. {Sharply) : Throw away your vote? 

Nicholas: I don't like these squabbles. 
Though I don't see why a man shouldn't smoke 
what he chooses, in his own room. 

Mrs. B. : After all, why should he have a 
room of his own ? Theoretically, of course. But 
practically, he's so selfish. Sam would be barri- 
cading himself here all the time. 

Nicholas: But the ladies 

Mrs. B. {Interrupting briskly) : That isn't 
the point just now, is it? I hope when you 
think it over you will change your mind. And 
persuade Judith. 

Nicholas: Judith? She doesn't care either. 
{Half sighing) She cares so little, really, about 
anything. 

Mrs. B. : Is it possible you don't know ? 
She's the head of the pipes. 

Nicholas : Head I What do you mean ? 

Mrs. B. : She's going to permit pipes if she's 
elected to the Board of Directors. The lady 
member, you know. 

23 



RUST 

Nicholas: You're joking. Why should she 
be elected? 

Mrs. B. : She's one of the candidates. 

Nicholas : Judith ! 

Mrs. B. : Oh, I'm so sorry. But how could 
I guess she hadn't let you — you didn't know. 

Nicholas: I couldn't think of it. (Going to 
zvindow and calling) Judith! 

Mrs. B. : Oh, please don't let her suspect I 
told you ! It would look so queer. I'm the other 
candidate, you know. 

Nicholas : I can't believe she would do such 
a thing without consulting me. But if it's so, it 
must be stopped. 

Mrs. B. : Well, come down to the office and 
find out about it there. I simply couldn't have 
her think I blundered into telling you. She's 
coming. Please. (She drazvs him away.) 

Nicholas: Very well. But I shall be much 
amazed if (They go by door left.) 

Judith (Passing the zn'indozvs zvith Dodd) : 
What is it, Nicholas? (They saunter to door) 
Yes, Nicholas? (Coming in) Why, he isn't here! 
(To Dodd as they come dozvn) Uncle Harry, it 
is so good to see you again. 

Dodd (Taking both of her hands) : Happy, 
Judy? 

Judith : Perfectly. 

Dodd: Perfectly? Served me right for ask- 
ing such a silly question. May I ask another 
one? 

Judith : Of course. 

24 



RUST 

Dodd: Contented, Judy? 

Judith : Um — yes. 

Dodd : Not a want in the world ? 

Judith : Unfortunately no. 

Dodd : Unfortunately ? 

Judith : How could I have ? My husband 
is rich and lavishes everything upon me. You 
see how anxious he is that I should have no 
cares, no worries. He gives me everything in 
the world. Except (She pauses.) 

Dodd : Except ? 

Judith : Something to bother about, I guess. 

Dodd : Hum ! Bored, Judy ? 

Judith : Frightfully. 

Dodd: Nothing in the social whirl? 

Judith : I would rather dry up and blow 
away than whirl like Mrs. Bradley-Stone. It 
wouldn't be so silly, perhaps, if I had been 
brought up in it. But to run around like a 
squirrel in a cage and get nowhere! It's just 
sham exercise, that's all. Once you've had the 
whole woods to range in. 

Dodd (Whimsically) : What's the woods? 
Mere rhetoric? 

Judith : Something to tackle — get your teeth 
in — some nut to crack. 

Dodd: I see. And what were these particu- 
lar woods that you ranged, getting your teeth 
in and cracking nuts? 

Judith (Getting interested) : Father's busi- 
ness snarls. You know everything was going to 
pieces when you left. 

25 



RUST 

DoDD : Poor old Joe ! Surprised he kept his 
head above water so long. 

Judith : Do you know why he did ? 

DoDD : Why ? 

Judith : I floated him. 

DoDD : You ? 

Judith : You remember he was getting 

feeble when you came to say goodbye (In 

a constrained tone) Just after you were retired. 
Well, I just had to help him. And I was crazy 
to. It began with little personal matters he 
didn't want to put in anybody else's hands. Then 
little by little I learned the ropes. I thought I 
saw where the leaks were and I knew I could 
stop them. Poor old dad ! No use explaining 
to him, I couldn't make him see it. But after- 
wards I proved it. 

DoDD : After ? 

Judith : After the final smash. Then I had 
to pitch in. Down at the office. Towards the 
last he was willing for me to do everything. 
And before he went he saw the way clear. Oh, 
if he could only have lived long enough to see 
every cent paid off ! 

DoDD : It was ! 

Judith : Yes. I went to see the creditors 
one by one. I convinced them there was a fight- 
ing chance, if they didn't force him into bank- 
ruptcy. They hemmed and hawed and decided 
to let me try it. 

Dodd: Judy! And you did it! Really took 
the reins yourself? 

26 



RUST 

Judith (Nodding) : At the office. And I 
cleaned up one thing after the other. Oh, it 
was glorious! If there's anything in the world 
magnificent, it's showing a lot of skeptical men 
that you are on your job. That you're good for 
something besides taking dictation. That you've 
got a scheme and can put it through. 

DoDD : You paid all your father's debts ! 

Judith : Every one. A hundred cents to the 
dollar. And what's more — got the business on 
its feet again. I was just going to take a flier 
when (She pauses.) 

Dodd: What? 

Judith : Nicholas. 

Dodd : Oh ! 

Judith : And I married. 

Dodd : Sold out ? 

Judith : I tried to persuade him to let me 
go on running it. At least until — other respon- 
sibilities came. Then to let me keep a controll- 
ing hand. But he couldn't bring himself to see 
it. None of the Allison women had ever done 
such a thing. I suppose he was right. At any 
rate, the woman in me was too strong. I gave 
up Kinglake & Company. 

Dodd : And become junior partner in the Al- 
lison firm. 

Judith : Junior partner ! Uncle Harry, I be- 
came nothing in the world but the disbursing 
clerk — with all bills o. k'd. You know how 
father brought me up — to handle the house 
money, to keep my own books, hire the servants ? 

27 



RUST 

Well, when father was rich and I was a kiddie, 
I ran his house for him — now I have a house- 
keeper and my husband discharged the cook 
yesterday without my knowledge. When father 
went to pieces, I ran his office for him — made 
ten dollars do the work of ten, knew all that 
was going on, handled what came in and what 
went out. Now I make all the bills I want to 
and haven't a cent of my own. 

Dodd: Not so bad as that. 

Judith : Isn't it ? It just is. None of the 
Allison women ever had an allowance. He 
doesn't care how I make the money fly, so long 
as it's his money. But I don't complain of that, 
for I've never felt the need of any. Whatever 
I want, I get it on the bill. 

Dodd (Encouragingly) : Well, there's some- 
thing in that. 

Judith : Yes — something to do. You should 
see what I buy when I'm bored stiff. It makes 
me sick the way I spend money. Just to occupy 
my mind. 

Dodd : Why don't you join the Daughters of 
something ? 

Judith : They don't try to do anything. Ex- 
cept to be made President. 

Dodd : Philanthropy. 

Judith : Nicholas signs the checks. Besides, 
he wouldn't let me really do anything first hand. 

Dodd : Reading ? Study ? 

Judith : For what ? Something I couldn't 
use. Don't you see I wasn't a business woman 

28 



RUST 

five years for nothing? I've got to have some 
practical aim in view. 

Dodd: We now come to the last thing — a 
hobby-horse. 

Judith : You dear Uncle Harry. Don't you 
suppose I'd lassoo one in a minute if I could? 
But Nicholas wouldn't let me harness it. None 
of the Allison women ever did. You know very 
well you can't do anything interesting without 
making a business of it. Now can you? 

DoDD : No, I suppose you can't. 

Judith : Very well, then. There we are. 
Nicholas thinks I've had enough of business. 
He didn't marry me to have me go on working. 

DoDD : H'm ! I shall have to smoke my pipe 
on it. 

Judith (Suddenly) : Why do you suppose 
that woman wants to keep the men from en- 
joying themselves in their own room ? 

Dodd: My dear, she just wants to stop some- 
thing. 

Judith : But why ? 

Dodd: You ought to know. For something 
to do. 

Judith : But what sense is there in that ! 

Dodd: My dear, be charitable. There is a 
sense of busy-ness. Busy-ness exhibits itself in 
two ways : To make something where there was 
nothing before, and to make nothing where be- 
fore there was something. Either way gives 
one a feeling of importance. 

Judith : Well, I'm feeling very unimportant. 

29 



RUST 

Perhaps that's why I want at this moment to 
get on that wretched little Board of Directors 
more than anything else in the world. Silly, 
isn't it? 

DoDD : H'm ! I don't know. 

Judith : You know it is. You're laughing 
at me. A grown-up woman with so little to 
occupy her mind as all that. To run a pipe 
campaign ! 

DoDD : Every woman's got to run something. 
Why don't you run Nicholas? 

Judith : If I could have run him I wouldn't 
have married him. But let me tell you whom 
you'll meet at luncheon 

Nicholas (Entering at left) : My dear! 

Judith: Yes? (Divining from his manner 
he has something to say) Oh, just a minute. 
Uncle Harry, if you insist upon going to the 
hotel before luncheon, you'll just about have 
time. 

Dodd (Humorously, aware of the situation) : 
H'm! Yes, certainly. (He goes up center.) 

Judith (Going with him) : Goodbye. Be 
sure you don't keep us waiting. (He goes; she 
comes down) Yes? 

Nicholas: Judith, they told me at the office 
— I don't want you to run for the Board of Di- 
rectors. 

Judith: Oh! (Quietly, after a moment) 
What are your reasons? 

Nicholas : My reasons ? You know how I 
dislike such things. (He waits for her to speak; 

30 



R U ST 

as she does not, he continues) I was amazed to 
find you had allowed your name to be put up. 
Without consulting me. 

Judith {As quietly) : What are your reasons 
for thatr 

Nicholas : For what ? 

Judith : Expecting me to consult you. 

Nicholas {With grave astonishment) : Why 
should you not? 

Judith {Smiling seriously) : Excuse me, 
Nicholas. I asked you first. Why should I? 

Nicholas : My dear, it would seem the only 
answer I could make to a question so absurd. 
Why should a wife consult her husband? You 
are not reasonable. 

Judith {Without sarcasm) : I am willing to 
learn how to be. I ask you why you don't want 
me to run, and you answer it is because you 
don't. I ask you why you should expect me to 
consult you, and you answer why shouldn't I. 
We don't seem to get far on that tack, do we ? 

Nicholas : But ought you not to consult my 
preference? I prefer that you should not do 
this thing. 

Judith : If it is a mere matter of preference, 
why should you not consult mine? 

Nicholas: My dear, you have never spoken 
like this before. My desires have up to this 
time been sufficient. 

Judith : Yes. But I've been thinking mat- 
ters over lately. Now this seems a harmless 
thing. And I wish to do it. 

31 



RUST 

Nicholas (Anxiously) : My dear, do not let 
us quarrel. 

Judith (Lightly) : I have no intention of 
quarreling. 

Nicholas: Then you will withdraw your 
name? 

Judith : Certainly. Do you mean to say you 
haven't already withdrawn it? 

Nicholas (Slightly embarrassed) : I told 
them when you knew of my objections I was 
sure you would decline. 

Judith : Thank you. 

Nicholas : Why do you say that ? 

Judith : For giving me the opportunity to 
do so. 

Nicholas: My dear, I don't think you are 
treating me quite fairly — in taking this tone. 

Judith : Perhaps not. But I should like to 
ask you a favor in return. 

Nicholas (Relieved) : Gladly. 

Judith : I should be very grateful if you 
would always allow me to withdraw my own 
name — in reality as well as in appearance. If 
for instance you have discharged the cook and 
arranged luncheon here for guests invited to 
the house, do not allow me to learn it for the 
first time in the presence of the guests. Particu- 
larly Mrs. Bradley-Stone. 

Nicholas: My dear, you know my only 
thought was to save you bother. 

Judith : Suppose I told you that was my 
reason for not consulting you about the Board? 

32 



RUST 

I fear you would say that was unreasonable, too. 
Only in that case you would be right. That was 
not why I didn't consult you. 

Nicholas (Surprised) : Then why was it? 

Judith : I knew you would disapprove. 

Nicholas: You knew — and put your name 
up? 

Judith : My dear Nicholas — I wonder if you 
have any idea how many things you disapprove 
of. I might as well be a Dresden-China shep- 
herdess on a mantel-piece. My only vocation 
in life is to smile and hold a crook — with a blue 
ribbon tied on it. And one I couldn't use even 
if attacked by a particularly violent lamb. 

Nicholas (In genuine amazement) : My dear, 
I didn't know you felt like a Dresden-China 
shepherdess. What is it? Is there anything 
you want? 

Judith : Yes. Sheep. 

Nicholas: I think I hardly understand you. 
Tell me what you mean. I will get you any- 
thing you want. You know, my dear, that's 
what I married you for. 

Judith : Well, I want just now to run for 
the Board of Directors. 

Nicholas: My dear, I don't think we need 
to go into that again. I have told you my ob- 
jections quite fully. 

Judith: I forgot. So you did. 

Nicholas: And I thought it was very nice 
of you to give up the matter. 



33 



RUST 

Judith : Well, we agree on that point, Nich- 
olas. 

(Enter Miss Ewing. She is a majestic and 
buxom lady, zvith high piled ivhite puffs 
and a Boston air. Her looks and the severe 
elegance of her black gown contrast oddly 
with a fidgety nervousness of speech.) 

Judith : Good morning, Miss Ewing. 

Nicholas : Good morning. 

Miss E. : Good morning. {Anxiously) Jes- 
sica not here? 

Judith : Wasn't she coming with you ? 

Miss E. : She went out in the car this morn- 
ing and was to go on to your house. Then I 
got your phone and didn't know what to do. 

Judith : Don't worry. They will tell her 

that {With the slightest of pauses) Mr. 

Allison ordered luncheon at the club. 

Nicholas : Perhaps I had better go after her. 

Miss E. : Oh, I couldn't think of such a 
thing. I suppose there's really no need of anx- 
iety. 

Judith : Let's telephone over and see. And 
then there can be no uncertainty about their 
sending her on here. 

Miss E. {Chirruping)'. Uncertainty? Didn't 
you leave definite word ? 

Judith {After waiting a moment for Nicho- 
las to speak) : We changed our plans suddenly. 

Waiter {Appearing at door left) : Beg par- 
don, madam 



34 



RUST 

Judith : Oh, have them switch on this phone 
at the office, please. 

Waiter: Yes, madam. There are some 
packages for you. 

Judith : For me ? 

Waiter : A man brought them from town by 
special delivery. 

Judith : I didn't order any packages. Why 
did he come here? 

Waiter : They told him at the house, madam. 

Judith : It's all right then. Miss Ewing. 
For a moment I couldn't think who would be 
there. Those two Swede girls haven't any sense. 
And the cook and my maid have been — have 
left suddenly. Together with the butler. 

Nicholas {In blank amazement) : The but- 
ler? 

Judith : Certainly. He's the maid's hus- 
band. And the housekeeper has gone to town 
to get in a new lot. So we were left with no 
one over Sunday. I am so glad, Nicholas, those 
two Swede girls have managed to get something 
through their heads at last. They will look out 
for Jessica. 

Miss E. : What a special Providence ! If I 
had known, I should have been positively nerv- 
ous! 

Waiter: Beg pardon, madam. The pack- 
ages ? 

Judith : Bring them in and let's see what 
they are. 

Waiter: Yes, madam. They're right here. 

35 



RUST 

(He brings in six hat boxes, three in a pile, each 
held together by a cord — a pile in each 
hand.) 

Judith : Oh, those hats. I had forgotten 
them. 

Miss E. (Chirruping): Forgotten six hats! 

Judith (To the Waiter) : Where's the re- 
ceipt? (He hands her it.) I bought them yes- 
terday morning. 

Miss E. : Six hats in one morning ! 

Judith : Yes. (She is signing the receipt) 
A dollar, please, Nicholas. 

Miss E. : What on earth for ? 

Judith: For me. (Taking the dollar) Thank 
you, Nicholas. 

Miss E. : What can you want with six hats 
all at once? 

Judith : I don't really want them, I just 
want to buy them. (She gives the waiter the 
receipt and the dollar bill.) Give this to the 
man, please. (He goes.) When you've abso- 
lutely nothing to do, you can spend a gloriously 
absorbing morning that way. There's nothing 
that takes all your mind so. Each one of those 
boxes was good for a full half hour by the 
clock. 

Miss E. : Well, it may be my Boston notions ! 
But I never heard of anything more scandalous ! 

Judith : Trying on gowns is another way. 
But that hurts your feet so. 

Miss E. : Isn't it scandalous, Mr. Allison? 

36 



RUST 

Nicholas (Smiling indulgently) : Why so? 
I think it very reasonable. 

Miss E. : But all that money wasted ! 

Judith : Wasted ? If three golden hours of 
something to do are not worth paying for, I 
should like to know what is. Besides, I never 
give over fifty dollars for a mere time-killer. 
Anything more than that is extravagant. 

Miss E. (Groaning): Oh! six times fifty — 
six fives are thirty — three hundred dollars ! That 
my Esquimaux women might have had! If I 
could only interest you in philanthropy ! Why, 
you could use up much more than three hours 
in perfectly delightful correspondence with the 
Board about it. They never agree with your 
ideas and you have to explain them. And think 
of the good you would be doing. To be the 
harbinger of civilization to three hundred Es- 
quimaux women. 

Judith : One dollar apiece. Bibles ? 

Miss E. : Not at all. You know that I have 
serious doubts as to the suitability of the Chris- 
tian religion for other civilizations. Each race 
should evolve a religion of its own. By no 
means Bibles. 

Judith : What then ? 

Miss E. : Petticoats. 

Nicholas : Petticoats ? 

Miss E. : I am credibly informed they wear 
none at all. Dress just like the men. How can 
one expect the race ever to become refined! 

Judith : But in Turkey ladies wear trousers. 

37 



RUST 

Miss E. : And the men skirts. It doesn't 
matter which. (Glibly) The differentiation of 
women has always been the first step towards 
civilization. 

Nicholas (Smiling indulgently) : Well, why 
shouldn't a race evolve a costume of its own, 
too? 

Miss E. : Certainly they should. I am the 
last one to destroy individuality. And for that 
reason I have designed a petticoat with racial 
characteristics. Instead of being fur-lined — for 
the cold, you know — the fur is on the outside, 
and the petticoat is worn over the — the leggins. 
(She zvhispers to Judith) Like a Union suit, 
you know. The American representative at 
Upernavik can get the petticoat for just one 
dollar in our money — Judith, if you only realized 
how many delightful hours one spends in writ- 
ing letters ! Then one by one as the subscrip- 
tions come in, he distributes them. You see, 
there is nothing romantic about my scheme. It's 
all on a business basis. Let me get one thou- 
sand Esquimaux wives and mothers to wearing 
my petticoats and I will guarantee a perceptible 
growth in civilization within one generation. 

Judith : Think of all the petticoats in those 
boxes. 

Miss E. : And each a stepping stone to the 
higher life. (Suddenly) Do you suppose those 
Swede girls could have made a mistake? 

Judith : Nicholas, you might ride over and 
see. 

38 



RUST 

Nicholas : Yes. (He starts towards center 

door, taking his hat from the table.) But I'm 

sure she's all right, Miss Ewing. 

TMrs. Bradley-Stone enters at door left, fol- 

lowed by Sam, her husband. He is a lean, 

taciturn, sporty-looking man, who stalks 

around gloomily and is as frugal with his 

actions as with his words; tremendously 

bored and constantly disgusted at his wife's 

slightly veiled insolence.) 

Mrs. B. {Calling gaily) : Where is our host 
skipping to? 

Nicholas: Just down the road a minute. 

Sam {Calling after) : I'll go with you. 

Mrs. B. : No you won't. You'll stay here 
and have a nice little chat with Miss Ewing. 
Miss Ewing, my husband. Such as he is. 

Miss E. {Holding out her hand) : How do 
you do? 

Mrs. B. {As Sam bows and takes her hand, 
she speaks of him as she woidd a lap dog) : 
He's such a nice little chatter, Miss Ewing. 
Aren't you, Sam? Yes, he says he is. Didn't 
you hear him say he was a nice little chatter? 

Sam {Tightening his lips in an ugly manner) : 
Aw, cut it out! 
{He goes and sits at the table center.) 

Mrs. B. : For Heaven's sake, what are all 
those boxes? {Eagerly) Place-cards for lunch- 
eon? 

Judith : Petticoats. No, I mean hats. 

Mrs. B. : Hats! Yours? 

39 



RUST 

Judith : Yes. 

Mrs. B. (To Sam) : Mr. Allison knows how 
to treat a lady. And I haven't a decent hat to 
my head. What do you want with all those 
when you go out so little ? 

Judith (Sweetly) : So that I won't have to 
wear one twice. 

Mrs. B. (Somewhat taken aback) : Sam, don't 
tell me I'm extravagant again. (By this time 
she has thought up a rejoinder.) Going out so 
much, I couldn't think of such a thing. But six 
will last you through the spring, won't they? 

Judith (Sweetly) : The fall styles will be 
in shortly. These are all summer ones. Would 
you like to see them ? 

Mrs. B. (Divided hettveen desire to see them 
and annoyance at Judith) : Will there be time 
before luncheon? 

Judith : Yes, we're waiting for Jessica. 

Mrs. B. : And besides, the last time I lunched 
at the club we had to wait an hour. Don't you 
remember, Sam ? You said there wasn't a thing 
on the table fit to eat. 

Sam (Disgusted) : Aw, cut it out! 

Miss E. : Where do you suppose Jessica is ? 

Judith : Let's open the hats. 
(She takes the cord oif of one pile of boxes.) 

Miss E. : Judith, I have no heart for hats 
when I think of your extravagance. 

Mrs. B. : Well, I have. 

Judith (Pitching her one of the boxes) : Try 
this. 

40 



RUST 

Miss E. {As the box Hies through the air) : 
Oh ! how can you handle a hat in that way ! 

Judith : Here's another. 
(She pitches one at Miss Ewing, who instinc- 
tively catches it.) 

Miss E. : Judith ! You might have ruined it. 
I heard a rattle. 
(She shakes the box cautiously.) 

Mrs. B. (She has opened hers and thrown the 
tissue paper on the Hoor, and is now surveying 
the hat in her hand) : Judith ! You could never 
wear this in the world. It takes color. 

Judith (Who has opened the third box) : 
How do you like this? 

Mrs. B. : Well, at least that's less trying. 
Let me see it. 

(She sticks her hat on the post of a chair and 
takes Judith's.) 

Miss E. (Who has not been able to restrain 
her curiosity and has finally opened hers) : 
What a dream ! 

Judith : Sixty petticoats in that. 

Miss E. (Enthusiastically) : It's worth every 
cent of it. (Checking herself) I mean these 
materials are frightfully expensive. 

Mrs. B. (Turning and looking at it, takes it 
from Miss E.) : Now, that's really a peach. 
That is, for my style. But I don't see what pos- 
sessed you to buy it. 

Judith (Sweetly) : Yes, looks like a race 
track, doesn't it ? Come on, let's open the others. 
{She slips the cord on the second pile and shoves 

41 



RUST 

the tipper boxes off on the floor. The ladies 
hang their hats on the chair posts and run to her. 
The three kneel before the boxes and take out 
the hats, throzuing the papers around. The floor 
is by this time covered zvith boxes, box-tops, and 
paper. They hold the hats critically before them.) 
This one I really like. 

(Mrs. Bradley-Stone rises, goes to the hat she 

has admired and compares it critically with 

the one in her hand. Hangs the second one 

on the chair post and keeps the other — the 

one that cost sixty dollars. The other two 

ladies are going through the same process 

of selection, keeping up all of them a little 

buzz of comment.) 

Mrs. B. : This brim flares too much for you, 

Judith. What in the world made you get it? 

You'll look like a pill in a pill box. 

Judith (Noticing her covetous tone) : Yes, I 
suppose so. I can't wear that sort of thing, but 
I simply couldn't resist. 

Mrs. B. (Lingeringly) : It needs more style 
than you have to carry it off. 
Judith : Try it on. 

Mrs. B. : Yes, I think it would just suit me. 
(Sam, zvho has been sitting immovable through 
all this litter in absolute disgust, has taken 
out his pipe, filled it, and reached for a 
match. He now gives a grunt. She looks 
at him and sees his pipe. ) Sam ! 
Sam: What? 

Mrs. B. : Don't you know where you are ! 

42 y 



RUST 

Sam : Oh, the pipe. (After measuring her 
for a moment, he puts the pipe in his pocket and 
surveys the scene.) Bully men's room, this! 

Mrs. B. : You don't mind if I try it on, dear? 

Judith : Not at all. 

Mrs. B. (Looking around the room) : I don't 
see why there isn't a glass in here. Sam, there's 
a glass in the ladies' room on the mantel. 

Sam : I can't go in there ! 

Mrs. B. : We'll let you now. There's nobody 
there. Go on. (Sam gets up and, kicking the 
papers out of his lijay savagely, exits left.) I'll 
have a glass put in here when I'm on the Board. 
(As she fakes off her ozvn hat, she suddenly eyes 
Judith slantwise.) Too bad, Judith, your hus- 
band won't let you run. 

Judith (Quietly) : How did you know? 

Mrs. B. : I was at the office when he found 
out. 

Judith : I see. 

Sam (Coming in, carrying the mirror) : Here! 

Mrs. B. : Now hold it for me. (She puts on 
the hat.) There's a good boy. So glad to do 
anything for his wifey, aren't you, dear? Yes, 
he says he is. Don't you hear him say he's so 
glad to do anything for his wifey ? 

Sam : Aw, cut it out ! 

Mrs. B. : Higher. (Admiring herself) Ju- 
dith, you might have bought this for me. It just 
hits me off, doesn't it, Miss Ewing? 

Miss E. (Who has put both of her hats in 
their boxes but without their papers, and the 

43 



RUST 

boxes one on top of the other by the wall left, 
now comes to Mrs. B., and circles the hat criti- 
cally) : Yes. But you need more hair, don't 
you think ? 

Mrs. B. : Of course, a few more puffs. How 
much will you take for it, Judith ? 

Judith : I don't want to sell it. As you say, 
it's rather loud for me; but I can wear it once 
or twice. 

Miss E. : Once or twice ! Sixty dollars ! 

Mrs. B. : You got your leg pulled. I'll give 
you fifty for it. 

Miss E. {Warmly): It's worth every cent. 
Look at that lace. 

Mrs. B. : But she'd be a pill in it. You'll 
give her fifty, won't you, Sam ? 

Sam : If you want to buy it, use your own 
money. 

Mrs. B. : But, Sam, I'm on next month's al- 
lowance now. 

Miss E. : Why, today's the first ! 

Sam : That's your lookout. I give you your 
money every month to do what you choose with. 
You never ask your husband for more than 
your allowance, do you, Mrs. Allison? 

Judith: No. (Bm^/^^) Mrs. Bradley-Stone, 
if you want the hat you can have it for what it 
cost me. Sixty dollars. 

Mrs. B. : But it's second-hand now. And I 
should have to pay for altering it a bit. {Impa- 
tiently) Hold up the glass, Sam. How do you 
like me in it? 

44 



RUST 

Sam (Without enthusiasm) : Rotten. 

Mrs. B. (To Judith) : What do you say? 

Judith : Sixty or nothing. Cash down. 

Mrs. B. (Scrutinising herself once more) : 
Well, you are a Jew. 

Sam : Put up or shut up. I ain't a mantel- 
piece. 

Mrs. B. : Well, Sam, advance me the money, 
dear. 

Sam : Not by a jugfull. I paid you your 
money this morning, what was left of it. 
(He goes out with the glass.) 

Mrs. B. (Opening her bag and taking out a 
roll of bills) : You are two Jews together. 
(Counting out sixty) Well, here you are. You 
must feel as if you were in business again — driv- 
ing such a sharp bargain. 

Judith : Yes, I do. It's a fine feeling — 
handling your own money. 

Miss E. : Oughtn't Mr. Allison to be back? 
I'm positive Jessica didn't go to the house and 
he's looking for her. (To Sam as he enters) 
Mr. Bradley-Stone, I wish you'd take your car 
and see. 

Sam (With alacrity) : All right. 

Mrs. B. : What are you so anxious to go for? 
I guess I'll go with you. 

Sam : Huh ! How'll I know her ? 

Miss E. : She's in the Browns' car. We're 
visiting them. 

Mrs. B. : You're glad to take a little spin 



45 



RUST 

with wifey before luncheon, aren't you, dear? 

Yes, he says he is. Don't 

Sam (Interrupting, to Miss E.) : Better 
come too. 

Judith : Why not ? You're a bit nervous. 
It will give you something to do. 

Mrs. B. : Might as well take my hat along 
and leave it at the office. Sam, bring the hat- 
box. (Picking out the best box) That one. 
(He gets the bottom and top of the box and 
starts grumpily by door left.) 
Miss E. : I guess if you don't mind, I zvill 
go with you. 

Mrs. B. (At the door, sweetly) : And what 
time may we expect luncheon, dear? 

Judith : Be back, all of you, at one o'clock. 
(Looking at her watch) Just a half hour. (They 
go. Alone, she puts up her watch and after a 
moment laughs.) A nice party Nicholas is hav- 
ing ! (She puts back one of the hats in the box. 
Then another. Discontentedly she fli7igs in the 
third as if she were pitching a quoit.) Sixty 
dollars! (She takes the money out of her 
bag to look at it. She puts it back and shuts the 
bag zvith a snap.) From her allowance! 
(With a crunch she scoops up the papers from 
the floor and stuffs them in one of the boxes 
and slaps the boxes down one on top of the 
other in the pile which Miss Ewing has 
started. She goes to the table, and, taking 
up the newspaper Dodd has been reading, 
sits and looks at it. After a moment she 

46 



RUST 

throws it down impatiently, gets up, and 
with another thought, starts to the phone, 
takes off the receiver and is about to speak. 
But she puts it hack again and goes to door 
left instead. 
Past the window come two figures, a man and a 
girl, and as Judith stands at the archway 
left, they get to the door. The girl is some- 
what disheveled and her duster is torn; and 
she is leaning heavily on his arm, which 
supports her around the waist. She is a 
prettyish girl of tzuenty, dressed in a care- 
fully cultivated but somewhat bizarre per- 
sonal style. This latter is not without war- 
rant, for, although boyishly slender, her 
figure possesses both in movement and in 
repose an allurement which is none the less 
genuine for being self-consciously height- 
ened. At present she has sunk with volup- 
tuous abandonment into the arm which sup- 
ports her, and is leaning against the mans 
body, her head — in its round automobile 
straw-bonnet — upon his shoulder in an atti- 
tude which suggests at once that she is 
making the most of an opportunity and that 
she is not much hurt. This the man seems 
aware of. He is about thirty years of age ; 
good-looking zvith, when he speaks, an ex- 
pansive smile. This — for all his Irish face 
and blue eyes — has a Hashing radiance that 
is Italian in its penetrating brightness. His 
complexion, too, is of a warm reddish brown, 

47 



RUST 

suggesting an Italian parent. His ample 
mouth has an expression of mingled bru- 
tality and tenderness. He is dressed in a 
suit of shepherd's plaid with yellow negli- 
gee shirt and shoes; and out of his breast 
pocket protrudes carefully the corner of a 
lavender handkerchief zvhich matches his 
tie and socks. His get-up, though conspicu- 
ously that of a better class commercial trav- 
eler, shozvs signs of native taste, and even 
in its loud key, is not unattractive. His voice 
and manner are sufficiently prefigured by his 
appearance — both are loud, hearty, aggres- 
sive and frank. He is a distinctly engaging 
specimen of a successful second generation 
immigrant ; and, though both ladies are of 
a much higher type than any with whom he 
has ever been in intimate contact before, he 
shows neither awkwardness nor constraint. 
The girl whose eyes have been closed opens 
them as she gets in the doorway. ) 
Judith {Turning and seeing them): Oh! 
{Running to her) Jessica ! 

Jessica {Limply, holding out her hand) : Fm 
all right. 

Judith {Taking her arm and supporting her 
down to the center of stage, together ivith the 
man who limps slightly) : Are you hurt? Jessica! 
Jessica {Smiling zvith gentle pathos) : Pretty 
— well — shaken — up. {She pidls herself to- 
gether cautiously. The moment the man is lib' 
crated he leans heainly on the back of the wicker 

48 



RUST 

armchair near which they stop, and raises his 
right foot from the ground.) 

Judith: But you're all right? Nothing 
broken ? 

The Man {Cheerily) : Oh, she's all O. K. 
She just caved in as we got out of the car. 

Judith : The car ? Where ? 

The Man : Just outside. Down in the road. 

Judith {Indicating Jessica's torn duster) : 
But there was an accident?. 

The Man {Grinning) : Well, if you'd seen 
my car! 

Judith : Which car ? 

The Man : Mine. Smashed to smithereens. 

Judith : But Jessica ? 

The Man : Oh, she was all right. We came 
back in hers. She was fine and dandy till we 
started to get out. Then all of a sudden she 
slumped. 

Jessica {Fearing her share of the accident is 
being lightly dismissed) : The thought of it all 
overpowered me. He might have killed himself 
to save me ! 

The Man {With pleasant derision) : Fudge! 
Had to get out of the way, didn't I? And I 
didn't have time to see anybody. So you didn't 
cut any ice. 

Jessica {A trifle dampened) : But I would 
have if you'd seen me. It's just the same. 

The Man : Oh, well, I'd have smashed just 
the same. And it saved your car. 



49 



RUST 

Judith : Perhaps you'd better tell me about 
it later. Better go and lie down now. 

Jessica {Emotionally) : No, it's just the nerv- 
ous reaction. It quiets me to tell about it. You 
see, something gave out in the car. 

Judith : Which car ? 

Jessica: My car. The Browns' car. -And 
we got stuck in the road just where there was 
a curve. The man was out seeing what was the 
matter. When suddenly around the curve came 
a toot, and then another car. The man — my 
man — heard the toot and jumped just in time. 
Jumped and left me there. And the other car, 
his car — oh ! 

The Man : I found the stone wall all right. 

Jessica : Yes ! Rather than run me down — a 
helpless woman sitting in a dead car — without 
a second's hesitation he swerved to the left and 
smashed madly against the stone wall. Such 
a smash ! I shall never forget it ! And as he 
smashed he jumped. Oh, it was heroic ! Thank 
you, Mr. {She seizes his hand dramat- 
ically. ) 

The Man {Perfectly at ease hut amused) : 
Don't mention it. You see, aiming for the wall 
gave me a longer time to jump. Martini's my 
name. {He takes from his pocket a book of 
business cards such as drummers use and tears 
off one, and hands it across to Judith.) 

Judith {Reading) : Barney Martini. 

Barney {Nodding) : Real estate. 



50 



RUST 

Judith : But I don't understand. How did 
you get back? 

Barney : We left the chauffure to see that no- 
body ran away with the junk and came back in 
the other one. 

Jessica : Yes. Mr. Martini was in a hurry. 
Said he couldn't stop a moment. But in spite 
of it, when I was overcome at the vivid recol- 
lection of it all — he helped me into the club so 
gently. 

Miss E. (Bustling in) : My child, Jessica! (To 
Judith) I had a premonition that stopped me 
just as Mr. Bradley-Stone took me by the arm. 
Oh, my child, I knew something was the matter. 
Are you hurt ? 

Jessica (Limply, with a return to her gentle 
pathetic smile) : Pretty — well — shaken — up. 

Miss E. : I'm sure you have an internal shock. 
You are so high-strung. Come at once and lie 
down. 

Judith : Yes, perhaps you'd better. 

Jessica (Allowing herself to he drawn away 
by Miss E.) : But I shall see you again? You 
will not go? Perhaps Mrs. Allison will ask you 
to — I mean — I must have a chance to thank you 
properly. And there's your car, you know. You 
smashed it to save my life. 

BARNEiY : Just the front of it, that's all right. 

Jessica : But we must pay for it. 

Miss E. (Chirruping suddenly) : Pay for it? 

Jessica: Yes, he smashed it for me. 

Miss E. (Briskly) : You must not agitate 

51 



RUST 

yourself, dear. You are getting hysterical al- 
ready. Come, lie down at once. {She hustles 
her out.) 

Jessica (Calling as she goes) : Keep him, 
please, Mrs. Allison. 

Judith : I don't know how we're ever to thank 
you, Mr. Martini. 

Barney: That's all right. (Looking at his 
watch) I guess I've got to beat it. I've got a 
date. 

Judith : But how shall we see you again? 

Barney : You've got my business address. 

Judith : But can't we do something now ? 
Send for your car, for instance. 

Barney: Well, say, guess that chauffure's 
getting homesick. You might just put it in 
cold storage till I can look it over. Excuse me 
now, I've got to beat it. Give my regards to 
the young lady ? Ain't it funny how she slumped ? 
Glad to have the pleasure of meeting you. (Shak- 
ing hands cordially) And hope to have the 
honor again. Excuse my hasty skipping, won't 
you? (He starts to go, wxilks about two steps, 
and slumps over into wicker chair) Oh ! (Sitting, 
he throws his head back and quietly faints.) 

Judith: Mr. Martini! (She runs to him) 
He's fainted. (She strikes the bell on the near- 
est table, runs to the screen door, opens it and 
puts a chair against it. Corning back, she 
quickly undoes his tie and unbuttons his collar. 
The waiter comes to the door.) Some whisky. 
And ice water. 

52 



RUST 

The Waiter: Yes, madam. (He goes has- 
tily.) 

Judith (She looks around the room, spies the 
newspaper and uses it as a fan. She fans him 
with regular unhurried sweeps until the waiter 
returns. He has a glass of whisky and one of 
water. She takes the whisky, dips her handker- 
chief into it, and moistens Barney's lips) : Wet 
a cloth and put it on his forehead. 

The Waiter: Yes, madam. (He starts for 
the cloth.) 

Judith (Pulling the handkerchief from Bar- 
ney's breast pocket): Take this! (The waiter 
wets it from the glass of ice water while she 
keeps on moistening his lips. Having folded it 
into a bandage, he is about to place it on Bar- 
ney's forehead, when some slight stir on Bar- 
ney's face is noticed by Judith) Ah ! 

Barney (Opening his eyes) : What's the mat- 
ter? 

Judith (Handing him the whisky) : You 
fainted. Take this. 

Barney (Takes it and drinks it down. The 
waiter takes the glass from him) : I — what — ? 

Judith : Fainted. 

Barney (In feeble disgust) : Well, what do 
you know about that? 

Judith (To the waiter) : All right. 

The Waiter : Yes, madam. (He goes.) 

Barney (Anxiously) : How long was I in it? 

Judith (Smiling) : Not so long. 



53 



RUST 

Barney {With decision) : I got to go. (He 
half rises and sits again) Oh! 

Judith : Where are you hurt ? 

Barney : My ankle. 

Judith : Here. (She brings a chair) Put it 
up. (He does so) And all that time you had 
your weight on it ! 

Barney (Grinning) : And hers. She ain't 
the bantam she looks, either. 

Judith : I wonder you didn't faint before. 

Barney (Taking down his foot) : Say, I got 
to go! 

Judith (Knowing that he cant) : Well, 
stand up and see. 

Barney (Rising, sits immediately) : Holy 
mackerel ! 

Judith : You see, the blood rushes down. 
Put it up. 

Barney (Putting it up) : Say, a thing like 
that can play ball with you, can't it? 

Judith (Nodding) : We've got to send for a 
doctor at once and get it bandaged. 

Barney : Nix on that. Pm going if I crawl. 

Judith: Is it anything I can do? 

Barney (Doggedly, looking at his watch) : 
If I ain't there by one o'clock I lose out. 

Judith : Where ? 

Barney: Mike Hawley's saloon. Where the 
road goes down to the marshes. About three 
miles from here. 

Judith : You couldn't do it now even if you 
had two feet. Can't you telephone? 

54 



RUST 

Barney: Sure, if I can get to one. 

Judith : Here. (She pulls over the little 
table with the phone. But the wire is too short 
by ten feet to reach him.) 

Barney : That's easy. {He rises as she gets 
to the back of the chair to push it over. He in- 
advertently steps on his foot again and wincing 
with the pain sits. ) Gee ! I haven't time to go 
flopping again. 

Judith : Can't I do it ? {She runs back to the 
table. ) 

Barney: Sure. {He looks at her eagerly 
with a frank smile.) Say, don't get mussy now 
if I ask you something. Can you keep your 
mouth shut? 

Judith : Yes. 

Barney {Approvingly) : Guess you can. And 
I'd trust you, anyway. I wouldn't trust the 
other one around the corner. She's on the 
q. t. all right, but she'd always be playing tag 
with you. 

Judith : What shall I say ? 

Barney : Call up Main 320 Party J. {Doubt- 
fully) Wait a minute. {He decides) All right. 

Judith {In phone) : Main 320, Party J. 

Barney {Noticing his tie and collar) Say, 
how did that happen? 

Judith : I did it when you fainted. 

Barney {Much pleased, but feeling foolish) : 
Go on! {He begins to fix them.) 

Judith : Hello ! 

Barney : Say you want to speak to Mike. 

55 



RUST 

Judith : Hello, I want to speak to Mr. Haw- 
ley. (To Barney) He says he's Mike. 

Barney: Ask him if Bud Wheeler's there to 
have him come to the phone. 

Judith : If Bud Wheeler is there, have him 
come to the phone, please. (Hastily) Oh! He 
says Bud's just out and he can't be running 
round after him all day. (In the phone) Just 
a minute, please. 

Barney: He thinks you're Central. Jolly 
him up a bit. 

Judith : How ? 

Barney: Say you're a friend of his and you 
always thought he knew how to treat a lady. 

Judith (In the phone) : Is that the way you 
treat a friend of yours? I thought you would 
do anything for a lady, (A little hastily) Oh, 
thank you, but I'm in a hurry now. If you go 
get him, I'll speak to you afterwards. 

Barney (Admiringly) : Say, you'll get by all 
right. 

Judith : He's gone outside for him. 

Barney : That's the stuff. I was scared stiff 
Wheeler wouldn't wait. Tell him I'm tied up 
here and can't get down. Say if he's in the 
same mind he was this morning, I'll get the 
hundred to him in half an hour. Don't tell him 
who you are. 

Judith (Soberly) : I won't. 

Barney : He's one of those suspicious ones. 
If he knew who you were it might start him 
thinking. 

56 



RUST 

Judith : Hello ! Yes, Fm talking for Mr. 
Martini. He's had an accident. Yes, in his car 
and can't come. He says if you're in the same 
mind he will get the hundred to you in half an 
hour. What? (To Barney, covering the re- 
ceiver with her hand) He says he won't wait 
longer than half an hour as he can go to the 
other fellow. And he says you must make it 
one-fifty. 

Barney {Excitedly) : I'll be damned if I 
will! {He half rises and sinks again with pain.) 

Judith : Mr. Martini says he won't consider 
it at all. Yes, he is right here in the room. 
What? Well, I'm his nurse. 

Barney {Chuckling) : Good. {Grumbling) 
I'll see him further first. One-fifty on a mere 
chance ! 

Judith {To Barney) : He says it's one-fifty 
or it's all off. 

Barney {Hotly) : He does! {He takes up the 
zvet handkerchief bandage which the waiter has 
left on the arm of the chair and wrings a few 
drops of water out of it viciously) Gee ! if I 
could only get at him ! I'm giving him the hun- 
dred as it is. Tell him he stands to lose a thou- 
sand on the offer. 

Judith {In the phone, getting more and more 
interested) : Very well, if you're willing to lose 
a thousand for the sake of the extra fifty. Mr. 
Martini says there's another man ready to talk 
business with him, and his offer suits him as 



57 



RUST 

well as yours. Shall I tell him that's your last 
word? 

Barney: Stop! don't say that. Leave us a 
chance to crawl. Oh! {He slaps his hand vio- 
lently with the handkerchief.) 

Judith : Hold the wire. I've got to attend 
to my patient. One of his bandages is loose. 
{She puts down the receiver.) 

Barney {In amazement) : What's that for? 

Judith {Vitally alive) : Quick! If I'm to 
land him I've got to know something about this 
man. Who is he and what's the deal? 

Barney: He's had an offer of two thousand 
for some marsh land. I don't know whether I 
want it, or not, but it's a pretty shrewd firm. I 
offered him one hundred bonus down for a six 
months' option at three thousand. 

Judith : What sort of man is he ? 

Barney : A pig-headed fool ! 

Judith {Impatiently): Yes, yes! I mean is 
he used to ready money ? 

Barney : Never had a hundred at a whack 
in all his life. 

Judith : Many business dealings ? 

Barney : Credit at the grocery. 

Judith : Will the other man pay him cash 
down? 

Barney : A hayseed like that ? Give him an 
installment and tie him up with paper. 

Judith : I see. {After a moment of specula- 
tion she goes to the phone) Hello, this Mr. 
Wheeler? Now, Mr. Wheeler, I can't have my 

58 



RUST 

patient bothered any more. He's feverish and 
likely to get worse. We must settle this right 
now. As I see it, you get a hundred dollars* 
bonus, cash right in your hand and clear profit. 
If Mr. Martini finds the property can't be de- 
veloped, you're just that much in. And you've 
still got your chance with the other man. That 
is, of course, if he really means business now, 
and isn't just going to tie you up and make you 
lose this offer to no purpose. It's nothing to 
me, only I can't have my patient bothered any 
longer. Will you take a doubtful sale for two 
thousand now and wait till you get in? Or 
three thousand in six months at the latest and 
one hundred dollars clear bonus in your hand 
to seal the bargain? (She waits) Very well. 
You stay where you are and he'll send somebody 
down at once. (She hangs up the receiver 
quickly and rises with sparkling eyes) He'll 
take it. 

Barney: Gee, you're a winner! 

Judith (Walking around in excitement) : 
Now we must send at once before he weakens. 

Barney : Sure. (He hesitates a moment and 
then grins frankly) I owe you just fifty plunks 
for that. Can you lend it to me till I get to 
town? 

Judith : What ? 

Barney: Honest, I ain't got but fifty in my 
jeans. I didn't expect he'd bite so soon. That's 
the reason I left him this morning — to raise it at 
the hotel. No trouble getting it on that. (He 

59 



RUST 

takes off his large gold watch and massive 
chain. ) 

Judith : Perhaps not. But we can't waste 
the time. Here you are. (She takes out fifty 
dollars from her bag and gives it to him.) 

Barney (Putting his fifty with it) : Co-rect. 

Judith : Now you've got to write out some- 
thing for him to sign. 

Barney (Taking a paper from his pocket) : 
Always go armed. (Rising) Do you think I 
can do it? 

Judith : Certainly not. 

Barney: Who'll we get to go? 

Judith : I was thinking. 

Barney (Cunningly) : Got to be somebody 
who can talk him over in case he's weakened. 
Be a pity to lose all that fine work of yours. 

Judith (Calculating) : Half an hour would 
do it. No one here yet. (To him) I'll go. 

Barney : Say, you're a corker. 

Judith (In excitement) : Give them to me. 
(He gives her the paper, the money, and the 
zvatch and chain) I don't want this. 

Barney : Sure. I'm hocking it. 

Judith (Holding it out to him) : Take it. 

Barney (Putting his hands in his pockets) : 
If you don't, the deal's off. We haven't any 
time to waste. 

Judith : All right. (She sweeps the money, 
the paper and the watch into her bag.) 

Barney: Don't forget the witness. 

Judith : I'll get my friend Mike. 

60 



RUST 

The Waiter (Appearing at door) : Lunch 
is served, madam. 

Judith : We must wait until Mr. Allison and 
the others come. Tell Miss Ewing this gentle- 
man will explain. And put on another plate. 

The Waiter: Yes, madam. (He goes.) 

Judith : Tell her to ring up the doctor at 
once. I've gone to deliver a message for you. 
And don't get mussy if I ask you something — 
can you keep your mouth shut? 

Barney (With a grin) : Sure. 

Judith (Hurrying out center door as the 
curtain falls) : Good-by ! 



6i 



ACT TWO 



ACT II. 

(A month later. The scene is the living room 
at the Allisons'. A large and handsome 
room into which — in the back at the left — 
a circular flight of steps comes down. Un- 
der the curve of the stairway is the main 
door of the house. At the bottom into the 
curve of the steps is set a semi-circular 
bench made to fit it. The stairs and the 
hallway into which they come project out- 
ward from the main part of the room. This 
is lighted by two windows in the back wall 
and by a third one in the wall at the right. 
All of these open on the large piazza which 
surrounds the house. In the left wall be- 
low the stairway is a door and lower still, 
next to the audience, a fireplace with pro- 
jecting chimney breast. Well to right cen- 
ter is a table. The chairs and other fur- 
nishings are handsome and substantial ; 
and while partly of a summer type, are a 
cross between those of a country and those 
of a city house. 

Miss Ewing, Jessica, and Dodd are discovered. 
Miss Ewing is at the table, on which lie 
open several pamphlets and paper-backed 
6s 



RUST 

reports, together zvith an open box of wa- 
ter-colors. From the latter she is, zvith 
constant reference to the pamphlets, apply- 
ing little dots of color to a large white map 
of India, on an easel to her right. Jessica 
is embroidering in a chair left front. Dodd 
is seated above and to the left side of the 
table reading the newspaper. The windows 
and door are open to a Jidy afternoon.) 
Miss E. {Reading from a pamphlet on the 
table over which she is bending) : The Presby- 
terian Mission at Delhi. (Turning to map) 
Where is Delhi ? Oh, here. What color are the 
Presbyterians? Oh, yes, burnt sienna. {She 
dots Delhi with her brush.) 

Jessica : Aunt, you have some green paint at 
the corner of your mouth. 

Miss E. : It's only water color. 
Jessica : But it's not in the least becoming*. 
Is it, Colonel? {Dodd looks up from his paper) 
The paint ? 

Miss E. {Siniling zvith superior understand- 
ing at him) : You don't mind, do you, Colonel? 
Dodd: I rather like a patch of brown paint 
on the lips. Especially in the service of human- 
ity. (Getting up and looking at her zi^ork)' 
That's a splendid map of India. No silly shad- 
ings. 

Miss E. : I had it made to order, cost twenty- 
five dollars. 

Dodd: Rather steep. 

Miss E. : Not when you know. I'm dotting 

66 



RUST 

it with all the foreign missions in India, each in 
its different color. So that I may see at a glance 
what foundation I have to work upon. 

Dodd: But I thought you didn't believe in 
foreign missions. 

Miss E. : They collect excellent statistics of 
matters the natives wish to conceal. 

Dodd: But I thought they didn't wish to con- 
ceal enough. The Esquimaux ladies, I mean. 

Jessica: Oh, the petticoats. That's ancient 
history now. Isn't it, Aunt? 

Dodd : Dear me ! what happened ? 

Jessica: Nothing, they wouldn't wear them. 

Miss E. : On occount of racial prejudice I 
was forced to leave the Esquimaux to the slower 
process of evolution. 

Dodd : Dear me ! Think of the American 
missionary with all those petticoats on his hands ! 
And what is this project? 

Miss E. : Suttee. 

Jessica : Widows burning themselves over 
their husbands' bodies, you know. 

Miss E. : Both the natives and the govern- 
ment claim the awful practice is stamped out. 
But I am credibly informed it still persists se- 
cretly. 

Dodd : And the missions ? 

Miss E. : They ferret out all that's going on, 
you know. I shall write each one separately 
and put all the evidence together. Then I shall 
have a scientific basis to work upon. You see 
now this map is well worth the money. 

67 



RUST 

Dodd: Quite so. And after you get the infor- 
mation, how will you proceed? To keep the 
widows from wishing to make bonfires of them- 
selves. 

Miss E. Oh, Colonel, how can you speak so 
lightly ? 

Jessica : Aunt, you are making a pun. 

Miss E. {Indignantly) : I am not ! (Seeing 
it) Oh ! go on with your frivolous embroidery. 

Jessica (To Dodd as he goes over and stands 
by her) : A centerpiece for the dinner table. 
(She holds it under his chin.) Don't you think 
it will be of service to mankind? And it's pret- 
tier than a messy map of Indian missions. 

Dodd : Anything which keeps people busy is 
beautiful. Especially when it's pretty. 

Miss E. : But when you can advance civiliza- 
tion, to take up with trifles ! Methodist mission 
at Chunderabbadad. Methodists are vermilion. 
(About to dot the map) Oh, there's a fly! 
(She sticks the brush crosswise in her mouth 
and folding the Colonel's newspaper into a bat 
pursues the fly cautiously) It's the duty of 
every citizen to kill flies. Their feet are full of 
typhoid germs. 

Jessica : Would you make red or yellow 
stems, Colonel? 

Dodd: Why not green? 

Jessica : Green stems are so ordinary. 

Dodd: Split the difference then. Try brown. 
(He picks up a skein of silk.) 

Jessica: That's red! 

68 



RUST 

DoDD (Dropping it suddenly) : Oh ! so it is. 

Jessica: Why, you are color-blind! 

DoDD (After a moment in a queer voice) : 
Dear me ! yes. (He goes to his seat and begins 
reading the paper.) 

Jessica: Isn't it interesting, Aunt? The 
Colonel is color-blind. 

Miss E. (Absently, still pursuing the fly) : 
What a pity, what a pity! (To Dodd as she 
stealthily darts towards him) Just a moment, 
Colonel. He's on you. (Slapping it in triumph) 
There ! Excuse me. 

Dodd : Not at all. I'm in the business myself. 

Miss E. : You kill flies, too ? 

Dodd: Yes, that is my principal occupation in 
life. 

Miss E. (Apologetically) : And I thought you 
did nothing but read the paper ! 

Jessica: But how interesting to be color- 
blind. (The Colonel gets up and zvalks away) 
Do all colors look alike? 

Dodd (Still in his queer voice) : Only red and 
green. 

Jessica: That isn't so bad. 

Dodd (As if to himself) : But — they happen 
to be signal colors. 

Miss E. (Chirruping) : Then how could you 
be in the Army? 

Dodd (After a moment) : That's why I had 
to get out. 

Miss E. (Seeing she has said something un- 
fortunate) : Oh, I beg your pardon 1 (Anxious 

69 



RUST 

to make amends) I thought you were much too 
young to retire. 

DoDD (After a moment with a bright change 
of manner) : And then after a while I became a 
professional bug-killer — an entomologist. When 
you can't do one thing, you can always find an- 
other — in two or three years, 

Jessica {Observing his curious intonation) : 
And what did you do in those two or three 
years ? 

DoDD (Surveying her zvhimsically as if intend- 
ing she shall see her impertinence) : A lot of 
foolish things. 

Jessica (Persisting) How interesting. What? 

DoDD (Coolly) : Well, my dear, for one thing 
I came near marrying a young lady like you. 
Only she was a Filipino. 

Miss E. (Shocked) : Oh! I'm glad you took 
to killing bugs instead. 

Dodd: Dear me, thank you! 

(Enter by door at back Mrs. Bradley-Stone, 
followed by her husband.) 

Mrs. B. : Good afternoon. (Sam nods to 
every one.) So nice having you at Judith's, 
Miss Ewing. Such a round of calls as I have, 
and I can do you both at once. I'm sure you're 
more than delighted, aren't you, Sam? Yes, 
he says he is. Didn't you hear him say he's 
more than delighted? 

Sam : Aw, cut it out ! 

70 



RUST 

Miss E. (Having piled up her pamphlets, she 
takes up her easel and map) : Excuse me a mo- 
ment. 

Mrs. B. : What's that ? 

Miss E. {Suggestively) : I will tell you when 
it's finished. Then I hope you will be very 
much interested. {She goes left, carrying them 
out.) 

Mrs. B. : Do you hear that, Sam ? It's an- 
other one of those get-civilized-quick schemes. 
I told you what would happen if you bought 
any of those Esquimaux petticoats. Much bet- 
ter buy us some, Jessica. Well, Colonel, have 
you forgiven me yet?" 

Dodd: I don't think so. For what? 

Mrs. B. : Getting on the Board of Directors 
instead of Judith. But I hope you won't think 
that you've joined for nothing. Come to me 
with your grievances. 

DoDD : There's a little trifle on my mind now. 
I wish you'd have the clubhouse moved. 

Mrs. B. {Suspiciously, thinking he is jesting 
with her) : Moved ? 

Dodd: Nearer the water. I don't golf and I 
do paddle. 

Mrs. B. : Are you serious, or making fun of 
me? 

Dodd: Very serious. Besides, I don't believe 
in taxation without representation. Half of 
our lady members don't play golf. 

Mrs. B. {Thoughtfully) : That's an idea. 

Dodd {As Miss Ewing enters) : Take Miss 

71 



RUST 

Ewing here. You don't play golf, do you, Miss 
Ewing? 

Miss E. (Majestically) : Still frivolous. 
Colonel ? 

Dodd: But you don't, do you? 

Miss E. : I do not. 

Dodd : Nor you. Miss Jessica. But you like 
to paddle round, don't you? I mean of course 
in the water. 

Jessica : Very much. Some one was saying 
the other day what a pity he couldn't take me 
canoeing. Mr. Martini. 

Mrs. B. : Mr. Martini? Of course that lunch 
couldn't be helped — that is, without more social 
experience than Judith possesses. But fancy 
her allowing him to call ! 

Miss E. : What else could she do? After 
Jessica and I came here to visit. He called to 
refuse to let us mend his automobile. It was 
very handsome of him. 

Jessica : You forget, Mrs. Bradley-Stone, 
that I owe him my life. 

Miss E. : Under Providence, of course. But 
we certainly owe him for repairs. So what could 
we do? 

Mrs. B. : But fancy hobnobbing with that 
sort of man ! 

Miss E. (With a shade of warmth) : No one 
hobnobs with me without my consent. 

Judith (Entering door left) : Tea on the 
back porch. Miss Ewing, will you serve? How 
do you do, Mr. Bradley-Stone. (Shaking hands 

y2 



RUST 

zmth him) What time do you want us to start 
to-morrow morning? Too bad we hav^ to mo- 
tor so far to the yacht. How convenient it would 
be if we could have a good yacht club of our 
own. (Miss Ewing and Dodd go out, Jessica 
is following) By the way, you don't mind if 
we bring Mr. Martini along? {Jessica stops.) 

Mrs. B. {Coming up briskly): Mr. Martini! 

Judith : Yes. He's at the hotel for the week- 
end and was to lunch here to-morrow. 

Mrs. B. : He seems to have the luncheon habit. 

Judith {Sweetly) : Yes. And you see it would 
be awkward. 

Mrs. B. : Aren't we getting home in time for 
a late lunch, dear? 

Sam : Ordered the lunch yourself this morn- 
ing. {To Judith) Bring him along. 

Jessica {Triumphantly) : Can't I give you a 
cup of tea, Mr. Bradley- Stone? {He follows 
her out.) 

Judith : I am so sorry. But you see the posi- 
tion I'm in. Can't we make it some other day? 

Mrs. B. : And have Sam sulking for a week ? 
Really, Judith, you must have a yellow streak — 
to put up with riff-raff like that. It's outrageous 
the way you're foisting that man on us. 

Judith : I know. But you always said I 
couldn't get rid of people. 

Mrs. B. {Impatiently) : Can't you see the way 
I manage it? You can do anything if you just 
smile sweetly while you're doing it. 



73 



RUST 

Judith : But you have a positive gift. I 
couldn't carry it off so well. 

Mrs, B. {Not quite sure she isn't being made 
fun of) : Well, I admit it takes practice. And 
you've got to be sure of your gown. (Smooth- 
ing her gown) How do you like it? To-mor- 
row I'll send you a check for it. 

Judith : No — the money, please. 

Mrs. B. : Judith, you're a Jew ! You just like 
to feel it. 

Judith : Sam might see the check and ask 
questions. 

Mrs. B. : Sam? He never bothers with my 
bank account except to deposit his beggarly al- 
lowance every month. When there is any. 

Judith : He doesn't seem to mind advancing. 
(She turns azvay and looks at her watch.) 

Mrs. B. : I bet he wants to get me in a hole — 
and then make his own terms. And think of 
the money the stingy thing spends on that yacht. 

Judith : And then to have to keep it way off 
there. 

Mrs. B. : I wish I'd drawn your husband. 
(Suddenly) You mean to say he doesn't even 
ask why you are spending so much money on 
clothes all at once? 

Judith : He's always delighted when I buy 
things. 

Mrs. B. : You wouldn't like him to know ? 
What's to hinder my pocketing this gown and 
daring you to do your worst? 



74 



RUST 

Judith {Sweetly) : Because there's that lace 
gown you want next. 

Mrs. B. : Jew ! Well, it's your own business. 
If you're willing to order me gowns and sell 
them ten per cent, off, I don't know why I 
shouldn't take advantage of it. But it's shame- 
ful the way you're deceiving him. 

Judith : You should have thought of that be- 
fore you asked me to do it. 

Mrs. B. : I ? Well, I believe you put it into 
my head, anyway. And buying that hat of yours 
showed me what a cinch it would be. But what 
on earth are you doing with the money? 

Judith {Mockingly) : I am a miser. I just 
like to feel of it. {She turns away and looks at 
her watch again.) 

Mrs. B. : You're up to something. I think 
you're a natural-born schemer. Pity your hus- 
band wouldn't let you manage the club. 

Judith : Yes. Are you managing it ? 

Mrs. B. {With careful carelessness) : What 
do you think of moving the club down to the 
water ? 

Judith {As if surprised) : Well, you are wak- 
ing up that sleepy Board of Directors ' 

Mrs. B. : What do you think of it? 

Judith : I doubt if you could put it through. 

Mrs. B. {Complacently) : I generally get 
what I want. And if you'd join your influence 
with mine 

Judith: I should have to think about that. 
It would be nice if we could find a good beach 

75 



RUST 

near by, so that you could use part of the golf 
links and save expense. 

Mrs. B. (Loftily) : Oh, the club doesn't think 
as much about saving expense as you do. But 
I suppose it would cost a good deal. 

Judith : As to that — you could sell the old 
property to good advantage. And there's some 
marsh-land right next to us which could be 
easily drained. I remember thinking the other 
day what an excellent beach was going to waste 
there. But you'll never get the club to change. 
Though it would be a great feather in your cap. 
Mrs. B. : Want to bet I couldn't put it 
through ? 

Judith : Yes. I bet you that lace gown. If 
you win, you take it without a cent — if you lose, 
you pay the full price. 

Mrs. B. : Done. I take you. 
Judith : But Miss Ewing's waiting to give 
you a cup of tea. 

Mrs. B. (As she goes) : Aren't you coming? 
Judith : In a moment. (Mrs. B. exits by 
door left.) That makes the fifteen hundred. 
(She goes into the hallzvay by the stairs. 
After a moment Barney enters by the back 
door, which is open. He is still smartly 
dressed in commercial traveler style, but 
his suit of brown and his tie and shirt of 
yellow make a somezvhat less striking com- 
bination. His manner is fidl of adoring 
respect, though it has lost nothing of its 
brisk frank heartiness. Their attitude to 

76 



RUST 

each other is that of two people who have 
an understanding.) 

Judith (Seeing him off) : Ah! 

Barney (Advancing and shaking hands with 
her cordially) : How are we to-day, huh? 

Judith : Now listen, Mr. Martini. Business 
first, for I may not have another chance. 
You're to go with us on the Bradley- Stones' 
yacht to-morrow. 

Barney: Gee! I am? 

Judith : That's why I telegraphed you to 
come out to-night. And don't forget you were 
to lunch with us to-morrow. 

Barney (More delighted) : With you! I 
was? 

Judith (With a slight shade of embarrass- 
ment) : Yes. That's why they invited you. 

Barney (Disappointed) : Then you didn't ask 
me? 

Judith (Fearing she has hurt him) : We'll 
make it some other Sunday. But I particularly 
wanted you to go with the Bradley-Stones to- 
morrow. I'm afraid she'll be a little — a little 
difficult. 

Barney (Grinning) : Oh, I don't mind. 

Judith : He'll be all right. Be awfully inter- 
ested in his yacht. 

Barney (Gaily) I'll tell him it's the greatest 
ever. 

Judith : Did you close the deal ? With my 
friend Wheeler? 

Barney: Just closed it — tight as wax. But 

77. 



RUST 

say, I was weakening on that till I got your tip. 
(Anxiously) You're sure it looks good? I'm 
a little strapped just now with other things. 

Judith (Eagerly, seeing an opening she had 
expected to contrive) : Suppose I lend you the 
money ? 

Barney (Pleased, hut not forgetting his na- 
tive shrezvdness) : Go on! I ain't so strapped 
as all that. But it's awfully good of you. 

Judith : I got the refusal from Wheeler. And 
now on my advice you have taken up the option. 
Of course I shouldn't want you to lose anything 
through me. 

Barney (With a shrezvd grin) : Guess it's 
safe enough if you're willing to lend on it. 

Judith : But it's a speculation all the same. 
And it must be handled very carefully. From 
the inside. 

Barney (Indidgently, seeing what she is 
driving at) : And you're the one that's got to do 
it? I might put my foot in it? 

Judith : Well, yes, you might. 

Barney (Enjoying the situation) : I don't see 
how your lending me the money's going to cut 
any ice. 

Judith : It would give me a hand in it. 

Barney : Come off. You're the only one that's 
got a hand in it until you turn the trick. I tell 
you one thing — you can't lend me a cent more. 

Judith : More ? 

Barney : Ain't you got my watch in hock ? 

78 



RUST 

Judith : Ridiculous ! Fll have to charge you 
storage if you don't redeem it. 

Barney (Jocularly) Can't afford it. When 
you're rushing me into these large deals! (Tak- 
ing out a cheap nickel watch) One plunk. Don't 
dare pull it out in office hours for fear I'll hurt 
me credit. 

Judith : Then I'll give it to you and you can 
pay when you like. 

Barney: No, you won't. 

Judith : Why ? 

Barney: I do business on the level — with 
friends. You keep the watch, see? Until I can 
scrape up enough to redeem it. 

Judith : But why be so silly ? 

Barney (Suddenly) : You want to know? 
(With the adoration of a child) Because I like 
to think you've got it. Tucked away somewhere 
in your belongings — something I used to wear. 
(More lightly) Gives you that warm feeling — 
like a dinner with five courses of wine. 

Judith (Lightly but a little taken aback) : 
No sentiment in business. 

Barney (Jocularly) : It's business to let you 
keep the watch, ain't it, and me have the use of 
the money? You ain't said anything about in- 
terest. 

Judith : Well, what of this loan ? I want to 
make it. 

Barney: Why? 

Judith : I told you — to have a stake. 

Barney: I asked you how that was going to 

79 



RUST 

do it. YoiiVe got all the stake you want. YouVe 
got the trumps. 

Judith : Now, Mr. Martini, we must settle 
this before we go on. And we're wasting time. 

Barney : It's your time you're wasting, not 
mine. 

Judith : What do you mean ? 

Barney : Come out with the goods. Lending 
me that money ain't what you're after. 

Judith (Evading) I just want to keep in the 
game, that's all. 

Barney : What do you suppose I hocked yoai 
that watch for? I ain't in the habit of forcing 
security down a person's throat. Do you think 
I did it because I was brought up in the Y. M. 
C. A.? It was because I wanted you in the 
game. Now state your proposition. 

Judith : I'd like to buy a half interest in the 
property. 

Barney (Without surprise) : Now you're 
talking. Sure ! 

Judith (Surprised) : Did you expect it? 

Barney : Sure. The moment you sprung that 
loan of yours I was on. I'm tickled to death 
to have you. 

Judith : But you don't need me — now it's 
started. 

Barney : Good ! It's started, is it ? 

Judith : Yes. Mrs. Bradley-Stone is one of 
the Directors of the club. After you gave me 
that idea I dropped a few words around, and 
now she's keen on it. All we've got to do is to 

80 



RUST 

let her push it. And when the time comes show 
her that the most desirable shore front is your 
property. 

Barney: Our property. 

Judith : Only of course I'm not to appear 
in it. You can make me out a personal state- 
ment. 

Barney: Well, what else? 

Judith {Surprised) : That's all. 

Barney: You could have told me that five 
minutes ago — without all this shenanigan. What 
was it you didn't want to waste time about? 

Judith {Confused) : Why 

Barney {Slowly, simply, and respectfully) : 
You wanted to get it settled before you told me. 
You wanted to be sure I wouldn't give you the 
go-by. {Judith starts to speak.) Oh, that's good 
business. I'd do it myself — to anyone else. I 
don't suppose there's any reason you should 
know right off like this that it's different with 
you. But did you really put that up to me? 
Didn't you know I wanted you in ? That I 
haven't been thinking about anything else since 
that day? To have you and me in something 
together is the biggest thing ever happened to 
me. 

Judith {Confused and touched) : Why — 
how could I know? 

Barney: Well, you know now. {Regret- 
fully.) And — and I kind of hoped you'd guess. 
Don't you think for a moment I ain't on the level 

8i 



RUST 

with you. I'd as soon think of cheating my 
mother. 

Judith {Extending her hand, feeling that he 
has paid her the greatest tribute he knoivs) : 
Thank you. 

Barney {Taking it in the same spirit; then 
more lightly — not at all ashamed of his emotion, 
hut with a healthy man's desire to get ont of it 
when it's over) : And if I did, she'd have basted 
the hide off me back. It's eyes hke a gimlet she 
had and the fine walloping hand. God make her 
bed in heaven ! Any members of your club in 
real estate? 

Judith {Somewhat startled at the sudden 
shift): Real estate? No. Why? 

Barney: What are you going to do with it 
when you get out? 

Judith : I haven't thought so far. 

Barney: Now you're in the business you'll 
have to learn. We're always rushing to catch 
up to year after next. You might turn it my 
way, huh? Our way, huh? Or perhaps a little 
swap with something down might be an induce- 
ment. What's the matter with throwing out a 
tickler? 

Judith {Catching fire) : Yes, why not? 
We've always kept the people away before. But 
if we move, it doesn't matter. 

Barney: Turn the house into a hotel and 
knock spots out of the other one. Cut the ground 
up into building lots — put up a pergola, and the 
thing's done. 

82 



RUST 

Judith : A pergola ? 

Barney: Ain't nothing develops a piece of 
property like a pergola. Catches them like flies. 
Two brick gate posts and a pergola will sell a 
sandpile. Call it a terrace and it's the milkman 
and papa commuting in six months. People 
have got to live and why not live classy at the 
same price ? Say, what's the matter with getting 
the post ofiice there? That will open up the 
whole thing. 

Judith {With enthusiasm) : The post office? 
Good. It's awfully out of the way now. And 
so is the station. But we kept them there on 
purpose, so that the people wouldn't come in. 

Barney : It's the ir-resistible and it would 
make. (Very glibly) The fine grounds of the ex- 
clusive Pequot Country Club are cut up into 
choice building lots and known as Pequot Ter- 
race. Sixty-seven minutes from Times Square. 
Sunday opening day, free transportation both 
ways and prospective buyers met at the station 
by our gentlemanly agent. Property zealously 
guarded and the nucleus of an intellectual neigh- 
borhood already assured. Say, we might give 
away one or two of the job-lots to college pro- 
fessors. That would fetch them in droves and 
when they saw the pergola, it's all over but the 
shearing. But we got to get that post office. 

Judith : Let's move the old one over, then. 
Nobody uses it but ourselves, anyway. How 
could we go to work to move it? 

Barney: Get a petition to Washington. If 

83 



RUST 

youVe got any influential friends ready-made 
it's easy. If you haven't, we can make some. 
(He slaps his pocket.) 

Judith : Oh ! 

Barney : It don't cost much. 

Judith : But bribing — 

Barney : Fudge ! You don't suppose a man's 
going to work up steam without coahng? We 
ain't built that way ourselves — you and I — are 
we? And say, you'd be surprised to find how 
few hods will get a move on. Through a con- 
gressman's the best way. But you'll have to 
work that up for me. I'm all right on Albany, 
but I'm short on Hartford. You spot 'em and 
rU spit 'em. Especially if there's any Eyetal- 
ians. Get that going, will you ? 

Judith (Her imagination fired by this large 
vista) : But how? 

Barney: How? (He winks at her.) How'd 
you cook up this business of moving the club, 
huh? 

Judith (Demurely) : By dropping a few 
words in the right quarter. 

Barney (With cordial admiration) : I knew 
when I saw you all you wanted was to give your 
mind something to chew on. Gee, there was a 
good real estate man lost in you! Get on to 
yourself and you'll be a hummer. 
(Enter Mrs. Bradley-Stone, followed in a mo- 
ment by Miss Ewing, Jessica and Sam.) 

Mrs. B. (Before she comes into viezv') : Well, 
Judith, you might have had a cup of tea with us. 

84 



RUST 

(In the doorway, seeing Barney) Oh! {Cat- 
tily) I understand. 

Barney {Coming forward cordially) : How 
are we to-day, huh? 

Mrs. B. {Distantly) : Thank you. 

Miss E. {With dignified courtesy of just the 
right blend to one zvho is inferior, but to whom 
she is under obligations) : How do you do, Mr. 
Martini ? 

Jessica {Following her, comes forward quickly 
and lays her hand in his) : Oh, Mr. Martini, 
you're not too late for some tea. Come along. 

Barney : Thanks. But tea and I don't agree. 

Jessica {Pouting coquettishly) : Not when I 
pour it for you? 

Barney : Sure not. It would go to my head 
all the quicker. {Jessica goes to her former 
seat and resumes her embroidery.) 

Sam: Hello, Martini! I want you {He 

stops and, turning to Judith, winks; then he calls 
to his wife elaborately.) My dear, here's Mr. 
Martini now. 

Mrs. B. {Icily, divining his intention to annoy 
her) : So I see. 

Sam : Didn't you say something about want- 
ing him to go to-morrow? {He sits triumph- 
antly. ) 

Mrs. B. {With bland insolence) : About want- 
ing him? Indeed? I had forgotten it. Mr. 
Martini, Mr. Bradley-Stone will be happy to in- 
clude you in his invitation to the Allisons. Mrs. 

8s 



RUST 

Allison said she had overlooked the fact that 
you were lunching with her to-morrow. 

Judith (Sweetly) : I really said, Mr. Mar- 
tini, that I had an embarrassment of riches. 

Barney (Suavely) : Always relieve an em- 
barrassment when I can ; don't you, Mrs. Brad- 
ley-Stone? I shall be happy to lunch with Mrs. 
Allison on Mr. Bradley-Stone's yacht. You are 
very kind to ask me. 

Mrs. B. (Perceiving after a moment that he 
has neatly landed her one) : I? Not at all. 

Judith (Seeking for something to say) : 
Why have you left Uncle Harry all alone? 

Miss E. : He said he'd go over to the hotel. 

Judith (Laughing) : He's always going over 
to the hotel. 

Barney : Make a good horse's neck there. 

Judith : No, it's flies he's interested in. 

Barney : Some of those there, too. 

Judith : He's been all over the world study- 
ing how to exterminate them. 

Jessica: How interesting about his leaving 
the army. (Judith stares at her in blank amaze- 
ment.) His color-blindness. 

Judith : Interesting ! How did you know ? 

Jessica : He told us. 

Judith : Told you ! 

Jessica : That is, I found out and asked him. 

Judith (Aghast) : You asked him! I thought 
he couldn't have spoken of it. He has never 
mentioned it even to me. Is it possible that he — 
told you how it happened? 

86 



R U ST 

Miss E. : No. 

Jessica {Not to he put off) : How? 

Judith {Gravely, after a moment) : I will tell 
you. And you will see what any reference to it 
or his army life means to him. It was in the 
Philippines and they were out on an expedition. 
In an emergency he was transferred to the Sig- 
nal Corps. He put up — the wrong light. A 
detachment of ten men — nine soldiers and a cor- 
poral — went to their death. 

Barney : Gee ! 

Sam {Rising suddenly) : By Jove! 

Mrs. B. {Interested only in the story) : The 
poor fellow ! What happened then ? 

Judith : Then — he went out of his mind for 
a while and when he recovered they had retired 
him. I suppose it was a merciful thing to do. 
Even if he had been detailed where his color- 
blindness would not have been dangerous, he 
would always have known that the whole Army 
knew. He was wrapped up in the Army and he 
was in the prime of life — the very midst of his 
career ! 

Jessica: He went all to pieces he said. 

Judith {In amazement) : He said! 

Jessica : Yes, he came near marrying a Fil- 
ipino woman. 

Miss E. {Shocked) : Jessica! 

Judith : It took him three years to get over 
it. To pull himself together to start again. He 
went away somewhere and fought it out. As 
well as we knew him, he never spoke of it to 

87 



RUST 

my father or to me. Of the tragedy or the 
darker days that followed it. The Army was a 
closed book. He even tried to give up the "Colo- 
nel," but it stuck to him. (Under her breath.) 
So you see now why you must never mention it. 
(Much stirred by her narrative, she goes up and 
out of the back door.) 

Mrs. B. {Impatient of the hush which has 
fallen) : Now we all have the mullygrubs. Break 
it, somebody. (Her glance falling on Barney, 
she determines to badger him.) Mr. Martini, 
you might give us your history, too. 

Barney (Divining her intention, gets ready 
for her) : Sure I might ! Would you like the 
ex-pur-gated edition? 

Mrs. B. : You might tell us why your name is 
Italian when 

Barney (Very Irish) : Me mug is Hibernian? 
Sure, that's in the ex-pur-gated edition. I take 
me mug from me mother and me name from me 
father. He was Napolitano and she hailed from 
'The Ould Sod." 

Mrs. B. : Really? A strange mixture. 

Barney : It was congenial interest did it. She 
was a cook and he had a fruit and vegetable em- 
porium. They fell in love trying to beat each 
other down. That's what makes me such a suc- 
cessful business man. 

Mrs. B. : And you have other characteristics 
of theirs, I suppose? 

Barney : Yes, I speak three languages. New 
York, Irish, and Neapolitan. But the accents of 

88 



RUST 

me childhood arise only when I'm angry. And 
generally I'm as mild as a lamb and will eat out 
of your hand. 

Miss E. (Much interested) : They're so ab- 
sorbing — these new American types. 

Barney : We're all new when it comes to 
that. We all came over once, didn't we? 

Miss E. : My ancestors on both sides came in 
the Mayflower. 

Barney : Sure, I've read it carried nothing 
but steerage. But you're not ashamed of them, 
are you? 

Miss E. : I should think not ! 

Barney: I bet mine paid more passage 
money. And they'll both be ancestors some day. 
Yours had the start of mine, but it took you 
longer to get going. 

Jessica: How was that, Mr. Martini? 

Barney: They were English. In one gen- 
eration the Irish owned New York. I thought 
of being a policeman myself. 

Mrs. B. : Real estate, I think some one told 
me. Quite a rise from a banana cart. 

Barney : Me first love for the soil came by 
way of boots. Then I was an office boy and got 
it in me lungs. Sweeping out a Long Island de- 
velopment company. When I saw what a con 
it was, I set up for meself. Since then I moved 
three times. And now I am the elegant posses- 
sor of an office, with mission furniture. Next 
year I break into Broadway. 

89 



RUST 

Mrs. B. : And the year after into society, 
doubtless. 

Barney (Gj'inning genially, with charming au- 
dacity) : Sure I mount to the top with a bound 
when I go yachting with Mr. Bradley-Stone as 
the guest of Mrs. Allison, and Mrs. Bradley- 
Stone begins to inquire into me an-te-cedents. 
It's a sad woman me poor ould mither would be 
this day. "Barney," she would say, "me poverino 
gossoon ! It's me that worked for them and I 
know them. Keep out of society." 

Mrs. B. (Who has been amused in spite of her- 
self) : Well, we must be going, Miss Ewing. 
{Severely) Where is Judith? 

Miss E. : You'll find her in the garden proba- 
bly. 

Mrs. B. : We've had such an unusually charm- 
ing time. Especially Sam, who likes this sort of 
thing. Haven't you had a charming time, dear ? 
Yes, he says he has. Didn't you hear him say 
he's had a charming time? {She goes.) 

Sam {Following her) : Aw, cut it out! 

Jessica : How Mrs. Allison worships the 
Colonel ! 

Barney : She's the finest woman ever wore 
shoe leather. 

Jessica : Yes, I adore her. 

Miss E. : Think of all that tragedy ! And he 
can smile and joke ! F'erhaps that's what makes 
him a little — well, according to my Boston no- 
tions — a little indelicate in his language. 



90 



RUST 

Jessica : And how worked up she got. She 
is generally so calm. 

Miss E. : I've often thought if she had a 
fault, it was a slight lack of vital interest. You 
remember I spoke of it, Jessica, at the beginning 
of the summer. 

Jessica: Yes, Aunt, you speak of it with 
everybody. 

Miss E. : And now she seems really waking 
up at last. Soon I shall even hope to get her 
interested in philanthropy. Oh, Jessica, how I 
dread seeing you grow up with no projects for 
humanity on your mind. 

Jessica: But meanwhile you must take your 
nap. You know you're going out this evening. 

Miss E. : So I am. (She glances out into 
the garden — not at all desirous of leaving Bar- 
ney with Jessica.) But I'm not at all sleepy. 

Jessica (Firmly) : Aunt, you told me this 
morning to be sure to make you lie down before 
dinner. 

Miss E. : I suppose I should husband my 
strength. (She goes and looking over the stair 
rail calls out) Judith! 

Jessica (Rising) : Do you want her, Aunt? 

Miss E. (A little Hurried) : No-o. (She goes 
up the steps,) 

Jessica (Having followed her as far as the 
stairs, she turns to Barney. He is looking for- 
ward very gingerly to the prospect of a tete-a- 
tete. She comes quickly to him and takes some- 
thing from the bosom of her gown) : Here. 

91 



RUST 

Barney (Taking it azvkwardly, seeing from 
her manner it is a gift) : What you want 
me to do with it? 

Jessica : It's a locket I had made for you. As 
a remembrance of that day. To wear on your 
watch chain. 

Barney (Eagerly seizing the pretext) : But I 
haven't got any watch chain. See. (He exposes 
his waistcoat.) 

Jessica : What a splendid chest ! You had 
one that day. 

Barney : When ? 

Jessica (Alluringly) : The day I lay in your 
arms. I felt it. The day you saved my life and 
smashed your car. 

Barney : Well, I lost my watch that day, too. 

Jessica: That's something else I owe you. 
Perhaps I shall pay everything — some time. 

Barney: (Taking alarm at her tone): Oh, 
fudge ! 

Jessica: I had it made just for you. And 
carried it here — where my heart was beating un- 
der it. I almost hated to give it to you. I liked 
to feel it there so. 

Barney : (Reminded of his speech to Mrs. 
Allison, he is all the more disgusted) : Ah, go 
on ! If you had a typewriter to plug, you 
wouldn't have time to listen to your heart beat- 
ing. 

Jessica (Disappointed at his reception of it) : 
Don't you want to open it? 



92 



RUST 

Barney: My father used to say — Curiosity 
killed a cat. 

Jessica: You're stupid, aren't you? 

Barney : My father used to say — it's the stu- 
pid ones live longest. {Winking at her know- 
ingly.) I'm good for ninety. 

Jessica (Softly) : Open it and see what's 
in it. 

Barney (Nervously) : I've got to see Mrs. 
Allison a minute. Guess I'll find her in the gar- 
den. 

Jessica (Piqued) : Well, there's one thing you 
might know at any rate. Mrs. Allison wouldn't 
want to be seen alone with you. 

Barney (Indignantly) : Why not? 

Jessica: People would talk. 

Barney (Truculently) : What are you driv- 
ing at? 

Jessica: They'd say the finest woman that 
ever wore shoe leather ought to be looked after 
by her husband. 

Barney (Good-hiimoredly) : Oh, all that rot! 
I suppose you mean I'm not her sort. 

Jessica: Of course that would attract atten- 
tion first. But afterwards they'd see — (She 
stops. ) 

Barney (Defiantly) : What? 

Jessica: What anyone with a pair of eyes 
could see. That you adore her. 

Barney: Sure I do. Angels were meant to 
be adored. 



93 



RUST 

Jessica (Sharply) : And are making very un- 
angelic love to her. 

Barney : Say, you'd better drop that. 

Jessica: Well, aren't you? 

Barney (Disgusted) : Oh, back up! 

Jessica : Even if you're not, aren't you 
ashamed to be making her — a married woman — 
fall in love with you? 

Barney : With me ! Get another transfer. 

Jessica : Other people are noticing it, too. 
You just heard my aunt say how changed she 
was and interested. 

Barney: What are you trying to do? Jolly 
me? 

Jessica : You know well enough you are mag- 
netic to women. 

Barney (Feeling like a fool) : Quit your 
stringing. 

Jessica (Invitingly) : You could make any 
woman think you were making love to her. 

Barney : Have you thought I was making 
love to you? 

Jessica: Haven't you been? 

Barney: Go on! When I've been dodging 
you? 

Jessica : But you knew I knew it was because 
you've been afraid 

Barney (Contemptuously) : Afraid of what! 

Jessica : That 1 would be silly and not know 
how to manage it. Yet when you get a chance 
you don't know enough to take it. Why didn't 



94 



RUST 

you come out on the porch for some tea? They 
had all gone and we would have been alone. 

Barney: Well, we are now. Aren't we? 

Jessica (Softly) : Yes. 

Barney: And you don't see me doing any- 
thing. 

Jessica (With a sidelong glance) : But being 
stupid. 

Barney (Good-humoredly staving her off) : 
Say, if you look at me like that, you'll make me 
leave home. You're a little fool talking that way. 
Suppose I was to take you up. 

Jessica: Why don't you? 

Barney : Because I ain't a fool if you are. 

Jessica : You think so, do you ? Do you sup- 
pose anybody guesses that — that we are talking 
like this ? People needn't know everything that's 
going on. If that's what you're thinking of 
you'll never get into a scrape on my account. 
I've got more to look out for than you have. 
And I know how to manage things, Mr. Barney 
Martini. 

Barney (Roughly) : Aren't you afraid to be 
talking to me like this? How do you know I 
can? 

Jessica : Oh, I've been sizing you up. 

Barney (Coolly) : I'll tell you one thing you 
don't know, my young lady — enough to fool with 
me. You'd better run home and play with your 
dolls. Girls down my way don't talk like that 
unless they mean something. 



95 



RUST 

Jessica: Why don't you find out whether I 
do or not? 

Barney: Well, I'll be blowed! 

Jessica: I'll give you the chance. I'm com- 
ing to town Monday on the ten o'clock train. 

Barney (Jocularly) : Hope you won't get 
nervous on the way. Shouldn't want you flop- 
ping over on my hands again. 

Jessica : That's another thing I'm old enough 
to know. 

Barney : What ? 

Jessica : Just when to faint. 

Barney : Well, I'll be — - ! 

Jessica: Some one is coming. (She sits and 
picks up her embroidery again.) 
(Enter Judith and Nicholas by back door. He 
has just come from town.) 

Nicholas (In the doorzvay) : My dear, you 
should take a sunshade when you go out. And 
I hardly like you to walk alone. 

Judith : I just ran over to the hotel — to see 
Uncle Harry a moment. 

Nicholas: But there are always tramps 
about. (She has taken his hat and holds it in 
her hand.) Ah, Jessica! 

Jessica (Rising) : Mr. Allison. Just from 
business ? 

Judith : Mr. Martini, Nicholas. 

Nicholas (Shaking hands) : How do you do, 
Mr. Martini? 

Barney (Heartily) : How are we to-day, huh? 

96 



RUST 

Just going, Mrs. Allison. Was afraid I'd have 
to run away before you got back. 

Judith : Good-bye. We'll pick you up at ten 
to-morrow. 

Barney: Sure, I'll be on deck. (He exits.) 
(Jessica takes up her embroidery and goes by 
door left.) 

Nicholas : My dear, pardon me for mention- 
ing it. But do you think it's just right for Jes- 
sica to be alone with that young fellow? She's 
so inexperienced, you know. Of course, I know 
we can hardly help it occasionally after what hap- 
pened — but he's scarcely the thing. 

Judith : I left her aunt with them. 

Nicholas : But what is this about picking him 
up to-morrow morning? 

Judith : The Bradley-Stones have invited him 
yachting. 

Nicholas (Astonished) : The Bradley- 
Stones ! 

Judith : Yes. You see he was lunching here 
(In reply to his look of surprise.) Miss Ewing 
is still going over that smashed automobile, you 
know. Besides it seems hardly decent — consid- 
ering what they owe him — not to show him some 
courtesy. 

Nicholas: Oh, he's well enough — good 
American stuff. I have no narrow old-fashioned 
notions, but of course we know nothing about 
him. And I don't need to remind my tactful 
wife that there are always complications. 

Judith : No. 

97 



RUST 

Nicholas (Sitting and taking out the paper) : 
Excuse me. I want to look at these quotations 
a minute. 

Judith (After twirling his hat a moment, she 
sits down. She has the air of having come to a 
decision to speak to him of something on her 
mind) : Do you know you and I are settling 
into an old married couple, Nicholas? 

Nicholas (Absently) : Yes, dear. Just a mo- 
ment. (He looks up and smiles at her.) Now. 

Judith : I said that you and I are settling 
into an old married couple. 

Nicholas (Tenderly) : Why not? 

Judith : You remember when we talked over 
my giving up father's firm. I asked you to let 
me keep it 

Nicholas (Interrupting indulgently) : As if 
I married you to have you go on working. 

Judith : I asked you then to let me keep it — 
until other responsibilities came. 

Nicholas: I remember that was one of your 
dear foolish notions. Am I not busy enough for 
the two of us? 

Judith : That's just why I said we were 
growing into an old married couple. You are 
so absorbed — and — when there are no children a 
busy husband seems to have so little in com- 
mon with his wife. Why, you got off this morn- 
ing without kissing me good-bye. 

Nicholas: Did I? I'm sorry. I had some- 
thing on my mind. The last few days I've been 

98 



RUST 

figuring out how to confront an unusual com- 
bination. 

Judith : Yes, I knew it. I was crazy to help 
you. 

Nicholas: Thank you, my dear. But it 
would have given you a headache. We shan't 
clutter up that dear head of yours with figures 
or anything else. It has had enough of that. 
The rest of your life you can spend figuring out 
what will show it off best. 

Judith : I came near coming into town this 
morning. 

Nicholas: More hats? 

Judith : To tell you, you had forgotten some- 
thing. 

Nicholas : To kiss you good-bye ? How very 
dear of you to think of it! 

Judith : And to tell you something else. (Af- 
ter a moment.) How would you have liked 
that ? 

Nicholas: I am always glad to see you, my 
dear. But I must own that this morning I 
shouldn't have had many minutes. Just enough 
for a forgotten kiss perhaps, and one for interest. 
We were making things hum this morning. Busy 
as bees. 

Judith (Eagerly) : What did you do? 

Nicholas : There was a glorious scrimmage. 

Judith (Rising and coming to him) : What 
happened ? 

Nicholas (Rising and pinching her ear af- 



99 



RUST 

fectionately) : We laid up some more honey for 
the drone. 

Judith : Oh ! {She turns away impatiently. 
Then turns back again zvith the same eagerness.) 
Tell me about it. 

Nicholas (Playfully as to a child) : I never 
bring business home with me. 

Judith (After a pause, in a steady, even 
tone) : What do you bring home with you, 
Nicholas ? 

Nicholas (Puzzled) : My dear, what a ques- 
tion ! Everything in the world I think you might 
want. Including myself. 

Judith (Still in the same tone) : Yourself? 
What is yourself? 

Nicholas (Smiling as a father might to a 
child who has asked an obvious question, but 
one that is perplexing to answer) : Why — it's all 
of me. 

Judith : Do you bring home your thoughts, 
your interests, your problems? Anything that 
occupies your mind? Your mind is yourself. 

Nicholas (With tender reproach) : My wife 
should know that my heart is myself. 

Judith: Your heart? Well, we will take 
that, then. Do you bring home sympathy, — 
friendship, — union ? 

Nicholas (In troubled surprise) : My dear, 
have you found me lacking in any of these? I 
bring home to you love — and confidence — and — 
(Somewhat at a loss for a zvord and a little 
ashamed that he must make a protestation) and 

100 



RUST 

happiness that you are here to make my home 
beautiful with your presence. 

Judith (Gently) : All these you might bring 
to a child — if we had one. And courtesy and 
kindliness and tender consideration — all these you 
might bring to a valued servant. But I am not 
a child to be satisfied merely with petting — or a 
servant merely to be graciously treated and paid 
his wages. 

Nicholas (Alarmed) : My dear, what is it? 
Do I not give you everything you want? 

Judith (A little wildly) : Give, give, always 
give! 

Nicholas (With simple dignity) : I thought 
that was what love meant — giving. I am eager 
to anticipate your least desire. I married you 
because I wanted to shield and protect you from 
every care and trouble. It is my constant joy 
to serve you. 

Judith : To serve ? My idea of loving is not 
to serve but to share. What do I really share 
of yours? Answer me that. 

Nicholas (Nonplussed) : Why, all that is 
mine. My house, my goods, my 

Judith : So does any guest that your roof 
may shelter. We sit together at meal times, eat 
and drink together — so do they. Of an evening 
we chat, go out together, read side by side — so 
do they. But what interest of yours do I really 
share? Or you of mine? 

Nicholas (Wounded) : My dear, that is un- 
fair and a bit unkind. You know I always make 

lOI 



^. 



RUST 

a point of asking you what you have done. The 
rides you have taken. The people you have seen, 
and the — the novels you have read. Do I not 
in short go over the entire day with you? 

Judith : My day ? My endless absorbing 
day. (She laughs a little hysterically.) I was 
speaking of interests. 

Nicholas: You positively alarm me, Judith. 
Am I to suspect that you are not interested in 
your position, your home? 

Judith : My home ! The housekeeper runs 
it. As for the rest, it is a daily career of mo- 
mentous decisions. Shall I take my morning ride 
up the road or down the road ? Or perhaps not 
ride at all. 

Nicholas (Interrupting) : Now, my dear, I 
have always insisted on your riding every day. 

Judith (Going on) : Shall I wear this gown 
or another ? Shall I have somebody to luncheon 
or lunch alone ? Shall I take tea at the Chamber- 
lains' or at the Williamses'? If it is cool shall 
I sit on the front porch in the sun? If it is 
warm shall I sit on the back porch in the shade? 
Shall I re-arrange my bureau drawers? Can I 
possibly have my hair done again this week ? Is 
there any new book to read, any new thing to 
do? Here is another useless hour, how shall I 
throttle it? While you — you are making things. 
Having a glorious scrimmage. Even when I 
ask you what it is, you put me oflf with a smile. 
**Oh, you have been as busy as a bee — laying up 
honey for the drone." The drone ! I was not 

102 



RUST 

born a drone. Who has made me one? As for 
your honey, I am drowning in it. You have 
smeared my wings with it when I want to stretch 
them and go to work ! 

Nicholas (Aghast at this outbreak) : Judith! 
Oh, this modern malady of unrest! And you 
of all women for it to fasten on ! 

Judith (With difficulty, coming down from 
her excitement) : Poor Nicholas, I am sorry ! 
But if I could only make you understand how 
weary I am of buttoning and unbuttoning. How 
would you like to tell your time by hooks and 
eyes? If you could only know how meagre 
my life is and how I long to share yours ! 

Nicholas (Relieved at her touch of humor 
and delighted to find she is becoming more 
sane) : But, my dear, my life is somewhat hot 
and dusty, and I find yours pleasant and com- 
fortable. I only wish I could have more of it 
with you. 

Judith (Despairingly) : Can't you under- 
stand that this life of mine — which pleases you 
so as a change — is all I have ! And how much 
of it do you see? One day in the week and a 
few short hours in the evening. 

Nicholas (Consolingly) : Well, my dear, I 
will try to come home a little earlier. 

Judith (Bursting into hysterical laughter) : 
It is useless, useless ! 

Nicholas (Expostulating) : My dear, my 
dear! 

Judith (Suddenly) : You never asked me 

103 



R U S7 

what it was I wanted to see you about this morn- 
ing. 

Nicholas: Yes, I did — the good-bye kiss at 
breakfast. 

Judith: But the other thing? 

Nicholas (Smiling) : We have been so tem- 
pestuous, I forgot it. But if it was anything Hke 
— like our present conversation — I am tempted to 
own I am ahnost glad you didn't come. It would 
be very distracting to have you whirling about in 
business hours. And I shouldn't wish anyone 
to have heard you laughing like that in my of- 
fice. Was it anything you wanted? 

Judith : No. Only to tell you something. 
But the time has gone by for it now. (A gong 
strikes.) There goes the dressing gong. At any 
rate I have the advantage of you in dressing. 
You have only one suit to put on. 

Nicholas : My dear, you sometimes puzzle 
me. What do you mean now? 

Judith : While I may bring my whole mind 
and intellect to grapple with the problem before 
me. Shall it be the green, or the blue, or the 
pink, or the black, or the lilac, or the gray 

Nicholas (Playfully as to a child) : My dear, 
are you going on forever like this? 

Judith (Quietly) : That is what I have often 
asked myself. That is what I was going to ask 
you this morning — when I told you something. 
That is what it is now too late to ask you or my- 
self or anyone. Because I have already an- 
swered. 

104 



RUST 

Nicholas {Indulgently) : Judith, I swear I 
don't understand a word of what you're say- 
ing. 

Judith : No. That's the reason I decided not 
to speak about it, {Going up the stairs.) Don't 
be late to dinner, dear. 

CURTAIN. 



105 



ACT THREE 



ACT III, 

(After dinner at Mrs. Allison's the last of 
September. Same Scene. Sam and Miss 
Ewing are discovered. Both are in evening 
dress. Miss Ewing is in her customary 
black, but her gown is more severely elegant 
than ever. Sam, rooted in a spot before the 
fireplace, is standing ivith his hands thrust 
in his pockets in an attitude of bored res- 
ignation. ) 
Miss E. : You and I are on time anyway. 
Sam : Past ten. Sweet hour for a rural party. 
Miss E. : The last of the summer festivities. 
Thank Heaven! 

Sam {Growling) : Then come the winter 
ones. Begin later, last longer. Sweet life! 

Miss E. : What a treadmill ! Do you go back 
to town at once from here? 

Sam {Nodding) : Here between houses. 
Miss E. : Between? 

Sam {Nods, then jerking his thumb up- 
wards) : Neat idea of hers. Wanted to take in 
this shebang — had to open in town for the next 
one. Shuts up the shop, bundles off the servants 
to get the other place going, and we roost at 
the Allisons' for a week. 

109 



RUST 

Miss E. (Sighing) : All that energy going to 
waste ! Nothing done for humanity ! 

Sam (Jerking his thumb back towards the 
end of the mantel) : Mail for you there. 

Miss E. : Oh, is there? I wondered why I 
got none at dinner. (She goes to get it.) 

Sam: Yours, ain't it? 

Miss E. (Picking up several letters) : Yes. 

Sam : Supposed you were the Society for the 
Improvement of the Condition of Chinese Wo- 
men. 

Miss E. : Yes, people don't think you are re- 
sponsible unless you are a Society. Nice sub- 
stantial name, isn't it? Nothing faddy. 

Sam : Name's all right. You never struck 
me for that other subscription. That Butt-in 
business. 

Miss E. : Butt-in? Oh, Suttee you mean. 
Well, the fact is I found I had to give up that. 
It's dreadful to think of women burning them- 
selves alive at their husbands' funerals and know 
you are powerless to prevent them. 

Sam : How's that ? 

Miss E. : Both the Indian government and 
the Missions wrote most indifferent letters and 
a swami in Bombay sent me a pert and almost 
insolent reply. Said he understood that in spite 
of the law people sometimes committed suicide 
even in this country. So what could I, one wo- 
man, do against all that apathy. But the Sut- 
tee subscriptions are being transferred to the 
funds of my present Society. 

no 



RUST 

Sam : What's that for ? 

Miss E. : The mutilation of Chinese women's 
feet. We shall print things. Show by charts, 
you know, just what happens to the nervous 
system — when the feet are not permitted to de- 
velop. I am credibly informed by a chiropodist 
— no — that's not the word, a pedologist — that the 
whole interior harmony of the body is deranged. 
Besides, how ungraceful it is ! I'm sure you will 
want to help. 

Sam (Taking out some bills) : Well, here's 
your fifty. 

Miss E. (Taking them) : Oh, thank you. But 
possibly you might want to examine into my 
literature — before you subscribe. 

Sam : All the same to me. Hindoo widows 
or Chinese feet. 

Miss E. (Appreciatively) : You have confi- 
dence in me. Thank you so much. You won't 
mind my seeing if there are any other subscrip- 
tions here, while we're waiting. (She begins to 
tear open the envelopes hastily and peek in each 
one.) 

Sam : Longer we wait, sooner we'll be back. 

Miss E. ( With delight) : One, two ! — oh, here 
are two letters by special delivery! 

Sam : Got to catch you before you hear from 
China. 

Miss E. (Busy with her letters) : Subscrip- 
tions both of them. I have struck the popular 
chord at last! (Triumphantly.) All of them 
subscriptions! It must be the colored chart of 

III 



RUST 

the nervous system. Americans are so absorbed 
just now in their insides. 

{Dodd enters by door left. He has on evening 
clothes, a light coat, and a straw hat. Under 
his arm he carries a bundle of pamphlets 
and in the same hand a dress suit case which 
he sets down very car ef idly.) 

Miss E. : Ah, Colonel! 

Dodd: Came in the back way. Cross lots 
from the hotel. 

Sam : What have you got there ? 

Dodd : My workshop and papers. Don't sup- 
pose Fd trust them in my trunk ? I'm all packed 
up ready to come to breakfast. Hotel closes 
at 8 a. m. sharp. 

Miss E. : Why on earth didn't you arrange 
to sleep here to-night? 

Dodd {Whimsically) : Well, you see — the pro- 
prieties must be observed. A young and single 
man can't be visiting Judith until her husband 
gets back. 

Miss E. : Why, Colonel, how delicate! But 
Mr. Bradley-Stone is here. 

Dodd (Looking at Sam drolly) : I should call 
him very much married. 

Sam (Snorting) : Huh ! 

Miss E. (Indicating bag) : Oh, do let me see 
it. I'm so interested in science. All my projects 
— if I do say so — are thoroughly grounded on 
bed rock. You know he kills flies, Mr. Bradley- 
Stone? Nasty typhoid things! 

Dodd: Well, I haven't got to killing them yet. 

112 



RUST 

Vm only trying to find something else to kill 
them. 

Miss E. : Oh, tell me about it, do ! 

DoDD : I warn you, Miss Ewing, not to set 
me going. Besides, there's the party. 

Sam : Looks like waiting all night for the 
ladies. And don't mind me. 

Dodd: Well, you see. Miss Ewing, an up-to- 
date entomologist is a developer of enemies. 
Bug against bug, you know. Even if all the 
people in the world went around benevolently 
slapping flies like you, it wouldn't make much 
headway toward extermination. Nature is so 
prolific, you know — in things we don't want. 
(Miss E. is a trifle shocked.) But if we can 
find a parasite — some little insect which we can 
train to lay its eggs on the body of the fly — 
then the problem is solved. The boarders will, 
as it were, eat up the boarding-house. 

Miss E. {In a superior manner hut with an 
evident desire not to zvound his feelings) : Isn't 
that a trifle — fanciful ? 

DoDD : Perhaps so. We haven't yet found 
a parasite we can coax to change his diet. But 
there is the case of the ragweed weevil, you 
know. 

Miss E. (Chirruping) : The ragweed weevil? 

DoDD : The bug that eats ragweed. And there 
is a tiny insect which lays its eggs on him — 
when he isn't looking, you know. Now, nobody 
cares how much ragweed is chewed up, but we 
do care how much cotton is destroyed by the 

113 



RUST 

cotton boll weevil. So a bright man thought if 
all the ragweed weevils were killed off, the tiny 
lady with the eggs might be made to take to 
the cotton boll weevil for a boarding-house. 

Thus, just about egg-laying time (Miss E. 

is more and more shocked.) 

Miss E. : Oh! 

DoDD : All the ragweed was cut down and 
the ragweed weevils all died of starvation. The 
little parasite was forced to deposit its t.gg in 
the cotton boll weevil. When the eggs hatched, 
the weevils got pains in their tummies and turned 
up their toes. And half the cotton crop which 
they had expected to chew up was saved. 

Miss E. : But — but — isn't that interfering 
with the ways of Providence? 

Dodd: Dear me, I suppose it is! {Pretend- 
ing to think it out, he concludes triumphantly.) 
But so is a man when he plants cotton, you 
know. 

Miss E. : But destroying a whole race of in- 
sects! It seems presumptuous. {A little flur- 
ried, conscious of an apparent zveakness in her 
position.) While to slap them one by one is 
surely what Heaven intended us to do ! 

Dodd : I trust you will continue to slap them ! 
Although we have scoured the world, we haven't 
yet found a little mother who will let her chil- 
dren feed on flies. 

Miss E. : I should think not. The nasty 
things ! 

Judith {Appearing at the head of stairs in 

114 



RUST 

evening dress) : You don't mean to say Fm not 
the last. (She comes down.) 

Sam (Growling pleasantly) : Huh, that's her 
specialty ! Have to get up early in the morning 
to be later than Mrs. Samuel Bradley- Stone. 

Judith : Brought your traps over I see, 
Uncle Harry. You haven't changed your stub- 
born old mind? I must tell the housekeeper 
about your bed. 

Dodd: Couldn't forsake the hotel. The last 
night, you know. 

Miss E. : That's his work. He's been telling 
us all about it. So interesting — but a little irrev- 
erent for my old-fashioned notions. ( To him. ) 
But don't you find it in your way ? Your color- 
bli — (She stops appalled, as both Judith and 
Sam dart an apprehensive glance at the Colonel.) 

Dodd (After a moment) : Dear me ! Yes. 

Miss E. (Hastily, and much flustered) : I'd 
better take these upstairs and put them away. 
(She holds up the money and the letters.) Just 
think, Judith, dear. The box is filling up. (Go- 
ing up the stairs.) I never had so much money 
before for any of my projects. 

Judith : She got over a thousand dollars for 
the petticoats. And more for the Suttee. Where 
do you suppose it all comes from! 

Sam : Fools. 

Judith : And such ridiculous schemes ! 

Dodd (Quaintly) : They show an original and 
independent mind. 

Judith : But they're so exquisitely useless. 

115 



RUST 

Dodd: Oh, I don't know. It's a good thing 
for women to keep busy. 

Judith (IVarmly) : Uncle Harry, you're 
laughing at us. You know men are not so silly. 

DoDD (Drolly) : How about alchemy and 
squaring the circle? And perpetual motion? 

Judith : But that was long ago. People are 
grown up now. 

Dodd: My dear. If you can tell me anything 
more exquisitely useless than spending hundreds 
of lives and millions of dollars discovering the 
North Pole — I should like to hear it. 

Sam : Waiting for your wife. 

Mrs. B. (Appearing at the top of the steps. 
She has on a lace gown. Miss Eunng follows 
her) : What's that? Slanging your wife as 
usual! {They come down.) Next week I shall 
be going to three in an evening. How will you 
like that? 

Sam : Can't be late to all of them ! 

Mrs. B. {With a sweet smile) : Judith, I 
should think you'd die here all winter ! Nothing 
to do. 

Judith {As szi*eetly) : Nicholas likes the 
simple life. 

Mrs. B. : I should insist on my husband's 
living in town. 

Sam : Glad to. Keep away from home more. 

Mrs. B. {Coming to him at the fireplace — 
from> which he has never moved during entire 
scene — and chucking him irritatingly under the 
chin) : But you wouldn't let wee wifey go to par- 

Ii6 



RUST 

ties alone — like Nicholas — would you, dear ? No, 
he says he wouldn't. Didn't you hear him say 
he wouldn't? 

Sam {Moving away a step) : Aw, cut it out! 

Miss E. {Of Mrs. B.'s gown) : What beau- 
tiful lace! 

Mrs. B. : Yes, I won it on a bet, didn't I, 
Judith? {Follozmng her husband.) And he does 
think wifey is so cute to get him a yacht club 
of his very own and move the old one down to 
the water — all with her sweet wifely arms. Don't 
you think that's cute ? Yes, he says he does 

Sam : Well, do we get this over or don't we ? 

Judith : I suppose we ought to be starting. 

Miss E. : But Jessica ! 

Mrs, B. {Impatiently) : You don't mean to 
say we've got to wait for Jessica? 

Miss E. : She has decided to put on another 
gown. 

Sam : Sweet life ! 

Judith : She can come with us. We can't 
all go over at once, you know. 

Mrs. B. (Szveetly) : How do you get along 
with only one small car, Judith? 

Judith {Sweetly) : It is inconvenient. Do 
you mind coming back, Mr. Bradley-Stone? 

Sam {Enthusiastically) : Great ! Another 
half hour gone. 

Judith : Then you can take them over now. 
The three of them. 

Dodd: Dear me! {Indicating his suit case.) 
Couldn't leave my plates stacked up this way. 

117 



RUST 

Judith : I've got the nicest den for you — 
just off the Hhrary. Come, I'll show it to you. 
(She goes right.) 

DoDD {Picking up his things and follozving) : 
Good ! 

(Miss Eiinng carefully puts on her veil over her 
high piled zvhite hair and ties it under her 
chin like a nun's cap. Mrs. Bradley-Stone 
lifts up the lid of the bench by the stairs 
and takes out her shoes.) 

Mrs. B. : Sam. (He comes and puts on her 
shoes. When he is -finished she puts on an auto- 
mobile veil and does up her head in it in the 
same manner as Miss Ewing. While Sam, 
having got his hat and coat from the settle, 
stands waiting impatiently) : Who's Jessica 
dressing for to-night? Never any young men 
at that place. 

Miss E. (A little shocked): Of all things! 
I've brought her up in the way she should go. 

Mrs. B. : I knew a girl who was brought up 
that way. And away she went. 

Miss E. : I regret deeply she has no projects 
on her mind. But I'm sure she has no men there. 

Mrs. B. : Don't tell me a girl takes an hour 
in dressing unless she has men on her mind. 

Sam (Snorting) : Huh ! 

Mrs. B. (Warmly) : You know very well, 
Sam, I dress for women. But Jessica hasn't 
got on to the necessity for that at her age. 

Miss E. (Hesitatingly) : Well, the fact is — I 

ii8 



RUST 

dislike to speak of it before an unmarried man 
like the Colonel — but she broke her stay-strings. 
(Sighing.) She will lace too tight. 

Sam (Casually) : Strap the feet in China. 

Miss E. (Majestically) : How can you com- 
pare them ! (Complacently conscious of her ozvn 
well-kept proportions.) Certainly our racial idea 
of the feminine figure is both correct and grace- 
ful. Lacing with discretion does not derange 
the nervous system. And though I don't like to 
speak of such things, I am credibly informed that 
even men should wear them. For physiological 
reasons it would be indelicate to discuss. (She 
goes to the door and opens it.) 

Mrs. B. (To Sam) : She'll begin a campaign 
on that next. But perhaps people wouldn't sub- 
scribe for anything so near home. 

Miss E. (Calling outside) : Why, Mr. Mar- 
tini! (Calling inside.) Here's Mr. Martini. 

Mrs. B. (To Sam) : That dago Mick! 

Miss E. (To Barney, zvho appears at the door 
in evening clothes) : Are you going with us to 
the party? 

Barney: Not been asked. 

Mrs. B. (To Sam) : Well, I was going to 
say if Judith had dragged him there! 

Sam (Snorting) : You and he are as thick as 
thieves. 

Mrs. B. (Witheringly) : Only in business. 
(Sweetly as Barney comes forward.) Good 
evening, Mr. Martini. 



119 



RUST 

Barney: How are we to-night, huh? 

Mrs. B. : Your last week-end. Too bad the 
hotel's closing. 

Barney : They'll keep me on. Got to have an 
eye on filling in the marsh, you know. Expect 
to be running in and out all the time. 

Mrs. B. : Then it's nice for you that the Alli- 
sons are here right along. Suppose you'll be 
dropping into lunch occasionally? 

Sam (Disgusted with her) : Are we going or 
aren't we? (He goes up to Miss Ewing.) 

Mrs. B. (To Barney in a lozver tone) : May 
have something to tell you to-night. (Louder.) 
You'll excuse us, Mr. Martini? Though I sup- 
pose you came to see Mrs. Allison. (Going up.) 
It's not an interesting party, anyway. Good 
night. (The three exit.) 

Barney (Alone. He walks about, comes to 
table and takes up a little leather-bound book — 
opens to fly-leaf and reads) : "Judith Allison, 
her book." (Repeating, lingering on the ivords.) 
Judith Allison, her book. (Looking around to 
see again if he is alone, he raises it reverently to 
his lips.) Sure, that can't hurt you, Madonna 
mia! 

Jessica (Appearing at top of stairs — her strazv 
automobile bonnet hanging by its coquettish rib- 
bons from her arm) : Tired of waiting? (She 
cannot see him on account of the projection.) 

Barney (Under his breath) : Och, the divil! 
(He looks around the room and, realising that 
he is in for another tcte-a-tete, he tiptoes to the 

120 



RUST 

upper right corner of the room, and stands by 
window curtain, seeking to hide.) 

Jessica (Coming down) : Why, where are 
they all? (She comes out into the room. Bar- 
ney, lifting the curtain slightly, tries to squeeze 
in under it. She sees him and is alarmed.) Oh! 

Barney (Urbanely, as he comes out) : How 
are we to-night, huh? 

Jessica (Surprised) : What were you doing 
there ? 

BarneIy (Very Irish) : Com-muning with 
nayture. 

Jessica: Where are they all? 

Barney: Gone to the party. 

Jessica: And left me alone? 

Barney: They've gone, fast enough. 

Jessica : And left me with you ? Quite alone ! 

Barney (Taking fright at her tone) : Sure, 
you will be in a minute. (Making for the door.) 
Good night. 

Jessica : Come here. I want to speak to you. 

Barney (Coming sheepishly) : What is it 
you want? 

Jessica : Why haven't you tried to see me be- 
fore? 

Barney (Drolly) : Sure, I was so scared me 
tongue clove to the roof of me mouth. 

Jessica (Severely) : What have you got to 
say for yourself? 

Barney: Not a stivver. 

Jessica: I don't believe you ever went near 
the station. 

121 



RUST 

Barney (As if surprised) : Sure I did. And 
a man buttonholed me. Didn't I write you ! 

Jessica (Scornfully): After I wrote you! 
As if you couldn't get rid of a man ! 

Barney : Sure, they're easy. Just tell them 
you've got a girl on hand. But you didn't want 
me to tell him that, did you? He'd be after 
watching to see who you were. 

Jessica : I wish I knew whether you're lying 
or not. I think you're making a fool of me. 

Barney : The shoe ain't on the other foot? 

Jessica (Taking a nezv tack) : I never saw 
you in evening clothes before. 

Barney (Strutting ivith frank vanity) : Nor 
I. Just had 'em made. Like me? 

Jessica : Splendid. What a fine chest you 
have. You look like a modern cave-man. 

Barney : Like a what ? 

Jessica : A man who would drag a woman 
off to his cave. 

Barney (Dodging the suggestion) : It's the 
mighty liar I am. 

Jessica : Did you expect to see me here to- 
night? Is that why you wore them? 

Barney : Got to get used to them. Now I'm 
coming out in society. 

Jessica (With a sudden idea) : That's what 
it is! You want to get to know people — now 
you've made a beginning. And you're afraid it 
would be a break. 

Barney (Puzzled) : What? 



122 



RUST 

Jessica: That's why you didn't meet me. 
Why you have avoided me. 

Barney (Jocularly) : Sure, that's the reason. 
It's the bright guesser, the Hkes of you. 

Jessica : You weren't so stupid after all. But 
you didn't think far enough. I could help you. 

Barney : A girl like you ? Then my name 
would be Dennis. 

Jessica : Oh, you can do lots of things with- 
out people knowing it. {Meaningly.) That's 
what I'm always telling you. 

Barney {Taking alarm at her tone, hut never- 
theless entertaining the idea) : You'd put your 
foot in it. 

Jessica {Indignantly) : Oh, would I? I can 
take you to this party to-night and it would seem 
as if it just happened. I could plan out lots of 
things for you, and nobody would guess. Do 
you suppose that's all my mind's good for — 
making center-pieces? A girl's got to do some- 
thing tame and domestic. But always when I'm 
embroidering — I'm planning, dreaming, making 
pictures in my head. 

Barney {Slightingly) : What of? 

Jessica {Alluringly, hut with humor) : Of 
stupid men with big chests. And how I could 
help them get what they wanted — and people 
wouldn't know I was doing it. When he's a 
politician I get votes and lobby for him. When 
he's in Wall Street I ferret out secrets for him. 
But yours i^ the best dream of any ! Because 
you're all in the making. And — and you're 

123 



RUST 

rough, and straight from the shoulder — and a 
cave-man. (Softly.) Don't you want me to try? 

Barney (Shrezvdly — not willing to lose her 
services, but desirous of keeping himself free 
from any entanglement) : I'm afraid you'd be 
balHng it up. 

Jessica (Warmly) : Didn't I get you where 
you are to-night ! 

Barney : Well, of all the nerve ! I got my- 
self here. 

Jessica (Disconcertingly) : How? 

Barney: By (He stops.) 

Jessica : Yes, you thought you were mighty 
cunning. But don't you suppose Aunt would 
have insisted on paying for that car if I hadn't 
worked it? I told her it would hurt your feel- 
ings. 

Barney (Crestfallen) : You did? 

Jessica : She's close, but not so close as all 
that. And I worked Mrs. Allison, too. 

Barney: Mrs. Allison? 

Jessica : How could she have explained to 
her husband your being here — if it hadn't been 
on our account? You owe it all to me. That 
was one of the things I was going to tell you if 
you had come to the station. So you see you 
have been letting me try without knowing it. 

And I shall keep on — providing (She 

pauses.) 

Barney (Annoyed at her, and seeing what is 
coming) : Oh, you might as well get it out. We 
ain't talking pink ice cream. 

124 



RUST 

Jessica: Providing you do your share. And 
— meet me at the station the next time. (Com- 
ing to him, she bends towards him and speaks 
in a soft, alhiring voice.) You will, won't you? 
{Judith enters door left, sees them and stops 
suddenly in the doorway. Surprised and 
shocked at Jessica's attitude, she is aware 
at the same time of an agitation, deeper and 
of a different sort.) 

Judith (With difficulty controlling her voice) : 
Well, Jessica, down at last? 

Jessica (Surprised and angry) : You ! (Re- 
covering herself.) I thought you had all gone. 
That somebody was coming back for me. 

Judith : So there is. For you, Uncle Harry, 
and me. 

Jessica: And I was just asking Mr. Mar- 
tini to take me. (With more assurance, seeing 
how she can use the pretext to advantage.) He 
didn't want to go because he hadn't been asked. 
Of course I told him that any friend of yours 
would be more than welcome. 

Judith (Embarrassed) : I — ^^good evening, 
Mr. Martini. 

Barney (Advancing to meet her with more 
than the cordiality of his usual salutation) : 
How are we to-night, huh? 

Jessica (Jealously noticing his tone) : So I 
hope you will assure him I was right. (Barney 
is about to protest, but not knowing what to say, 
stands awkwardly, and embarrassed.) 

Judith (After a moment, in a low voice) : 

125 



RUST 

I'm afraid there won't be room for the four 
of us. 

Jessica : There's the seat that lets down. 

Barney (Explosively) : Mind your business! 
(More mildly.) Don't you let her worry you, 
Mrs. Allison. I wouldn't go even if there was 
room. That is, unless you needed me. 

Jessica (Smarting at his tone and at his ig- 
noring her) : Oh, if Mrs. Allison needed you, 
it would be all right. (With a sudden idea.) 
That's it! I know where I stand now. That's 
the reason you wouldn't (she stops.) 

Judith (Coldly) : I don't know what you are 
talking about, Jessica. 

Jessica: You don't? I do very well and so 
does he. And if you don't, you ought to. 

Barney (Angrily) : That will be enough from 
you! 

Jessica: Oh, will it, Mr. Barney Martini? 
I'll teach you to yell at me in that way. Mrs. 
Allison 

Barney : Shut up, I tell you ! 

Jessica : I should think you'd be ashamed of 
yourself. Because you know it and let it go on. 

Judith : Know what, Jessica ? 

Barney : Stop ! 

Jessica: He is in love with you. 

Judith (After a moment, quietly) : We will 
say good evening, Mr. Martini. 

Barney: Yes. (Turning to her awkwardly.) 
Don't you let her worry you. (He starts to go 

126 



RUST 

and half turns again,) I guess my love ain't 
the kind you need be ashamed of. 

Judith (Slowly, thinking of herself) : No — 
it is not of you I need be ashamed. 

DoDD (Entering by door left) : Not a plate 
damaged ! (Seeing something is zvrong, he darts 
a quick look at Judith, then at Jessica and 
Barney.) Didn't know you were bound this 
way, Mr. Martini, or I'd have asked you to help 
me with my traps. But everything is as right 
as toast. If you have any time to spare from 
that sea-wall of yours, I'd get you to have a 
fence built around my property. 
(Judith leaves the group and going to chair 
right front sits quietly, staring straight ahead 
of her.) 

Jessica: Your property, Colonel? 

DoDD (Quaintly) : Mrs. Allison has conferred 
upon me the sole rights to one desk to have and 
to hold for the length of my stay. I want to 
keep out all trespassers. Especially young la- 
dies, Miss Jessica. A fence confers all legal 
rights of property holders, doesn't it, Mr. Mar- 
tini? Not even that formidable person, a real 
estate agent, dares cross a fence? Or must I 
have a sign on it, Miss Jessica ? No trespassing 
allowed? (Jle is speaking to Ull up time and is 
all the while glancing from Judith to Jessica 
and Barney, endeavoring to make up his mind 
as to the cause of the disturbance.) 

Jessica : Better ask Mr. Martini. I'm not an 
authority on trespassing. (Barney is about to 

i2y 



RUST 

retort hotly, but controls himself.) But I 
shouldn't think a mere fence would keep out 
meddlers. To say nothing of real estate agents. 

Barney: Sure I wish I had a fence around 
me. It would keep off squatters anyway. 

Jessica (Turning away furiously): Oh! 

DoDD ( Who by this time has made up his mind 
that the trouble lies with Jessica and Barney) : 
Then there are squatters, too, as well as tres- 
passers? Dear me, how hard it is to establish 
one's rights! I shall have an eye on both of 
you. 

Barney: Then I'll be after running away. 
Good night. {Judith rises instinctively and 
looks toward him — he pauses uncertainly and 
then, taking out of the pocket the little book 
which he had slipped there when Jessica sur- 
prised him, he comes dozvn to her at extreme 
right. ) Speaking of property, I was carting off 
some of yours. {He holds it out, regarding her 
with dumb zvist fulness.) 

Judith: Mine? 

Barney : It has your name in it. I was look- 
ing at it. 

DoDD {Noting that Jessica is regarding them 
jealously, he picks up her automobile bonnet) : 
Is this a bonnet or a basket? Miss Jessica, I 
dare you to put it on. {Jessica takes it from 
him, somewhat ungraciously, and begins to put 
it on.) 

Judith {To Barney in a low voice) : I must 
see you. Come back when they go. 

128 



RUST 

DoDD (Quaintly) : I thought I heard there was 
to be a party. 

Judith (Advancing to the Colonel^ leaving 
the hook in Barney's hand) : The car will be 
here presently. But Fm afraid you must both 
go without me. I have such a headache coming 
on. 

DoDD : Judy, dear ! 

Judith : It's nothing. Only I must lie down. 
Jessica will make my excuses. 

Jessica (Darting a quick look at Barney) : 
Oh, yes. I'm so sorry. 

Judith: Have a pleasant evening. (Going 
up the stairs.) 

DoDD : Dear me, now that's too bad ! 

Jessica (To Barney, who still holds the book 
in his hand) : Hard to give up other people's 
property, isn't it? Especially if they're not will- 
ing to take anything from one. (Turning to 
Dodd) Colonel, would you ever have suspected 
that Mr. Martini couldn't stand teasing. I asked 
him to go to the party and he thought I was 
making fun of him. As if his not being asked 
mattered. (To Barney, seeking to recover her 
lost ground) Don't be cross, Mr. Martini. I'm 
sorry I said a little more than I ought to. It was 
because I thought you didn't want me. Won't 
you forgive me and come? (Without waiting 
for an answer she turns to Dodd) Colonel, 
where is your hat? Now that Mrs. Allison isn't 
going, I know you hate me for dragging you 
out at this time of night. But I can go alone 

129 



RUST 

easily, or Mr. Martini would be kind enough 
to come as far as the door. 

DoDD (Getting his hat) : You think I'm too 
old to like parties? I would rather go to a 
party than eat. 

Jessica: Here comes the car. Now, Colonel, 
be perfectly frank. Don't come just to escort 
me. Mr. Martini will go, I'm sure. 

Sam (Opening the door) : All aboard. Step 
lively. 

Jessica (Disappointed) : Too bad you had to 
come back for us. 

Sam : Wish there was another load ! 

DoDD (Putting dozi'H his hat) : Well, frankly, 
Miss Jessica, I guess you're right. I'm too old 
to go skylarking at this time of night. 

Jessica (Realizing that his idea has been to 
keep Barney from going): Oh! Won't you 
come, Mr. Martini? 

Barney (Shortly) : No, thanks. 

Jessica : Excuse me. I forgot you said good 
night a while ago. 

Sam : Where's Judith ? 

Jessica: She isn't going. Severe headache 
suddenly. (To Dodd) Suppose you don't mind 
doing the honors for Mr. Martini, Colonel, since 
you are stopping here. 

Dodd: I'm at the hotel to-night. 

Jessica : Oh, then you'll both walk over to- 
gether. (She takes the key from the side of the 
door and turns) How dark it is. Help me down, 
Mr. Bradley-Stone. Oh, wait a minute. (Turn- 

130 



RUST 

ing back) I'll just slip the catch. You might 
forget it, Colonel, and the servants are all in 
the other part of the house. {She slips it) You 
never know when somebody might be walking 
in. Good night. (Turning) Don't let me fall, 
Mr. Bradley- Stone. (They exit. 
Barney and Dodd, left alone, survey each other 
with some humorous appreciation of the 
situation.) 

Barney (Breaking the silence) : Have a cigar. 
(Producing two, he hands Dodd one.) 

Dodd: Thanks. 

Barney (Looking for matches) : I've left my 
lights in my other clothes. 

Dodd: Here are some, I guess. (Going to 
mantel he gets a match, lights Barney's cigar 
and his own) How long will you be with the 
sea-wall ? 

Barney: Off and on — all winter. 

Dodd: The clubhouse won't be open by sum- 
mer, then? 

Barney : Begun already. All firm land where 
that is. 

Dodd: Pretty expensive operation? 

Barney: Quite tidy. But we make it up on 
the two properties together. 

Dodd: The two? 

Barney: The old club's in the dicker. Didn't 
you know? But come to think, it's just been 
settled at a private meeting of the Board. We're 
waiting for them to pay something down. 

Dodd: Dear me! Mrs. Bradley-Stone has a 

131 



RUST 

way with her, hasn't she? I should have 
thought that would go before the members. 

Barney : What's the odds ? They voted for 
the new place and left the disposal of the old 
to the Board — as I understand it. 

DoDD : To be sure. — Going my way ? 
Barney: For a piece. Thought I'd stroll a 
bit. 

Dodd: Might as well be moving. {They get 
to the door) Dear me, who would have sup- 
posed Miss Jessica would have been so thought- 
ful. Fm sure I should have forgotten to slip 
the catch, wouldn't you? 

Barney : She'll make some man a nice wife. 
Dodd: Locking him out, you mean. {He 
pauses) Dear me, I almost forgot something 
else. One of my pamphlets. Don't wait, Fll 
catch up with you. {He goes by door left and 
carefully closes it behind him. 
Barney unslips the catch quickly. Coming 
hack a step or two, he pauses for delibera- 
tion, glances at door left and then up the 
stairs. Reconsidering, he goes and slips the 
catch again. Then taking the book from 
his pocket, he lays it on the stairway be- 
tween the railings on a level zvith his shoul- 
der. He exits. Dodd returns and seeing 
Barney has gone, goes quickly to the door 
and inspects the latch. He stands a moment 
thoughtfidly, scratching his head.) 
Dodd {In a tone of relief) : Jessica, not Ju- 



132 



RUST 

dith, thank God! (He goes, shutting the door 
softly after him. 

The stage is empty. A clock in another room 
strikes eleven in deep tones. After a mo- 
ment Judith comes to the head of the stairs 
and looks down. She is in a negligee gown 
with long, loose sleeves.) 
Judith {Coming down a stair or two) : Are 
you all gone? (She comes all the way down 
and out into the room, and assures herself that 
no one is there. As she goes back she sees the 
book, takes it down and looks at it. It makes 
her think of Barney as he intended — holding it 
in her hand, she goes to the door and unslips 
the catch. Coming back she sits upon the stairs 
a few steps up. Taking a package from the 
bosom of her gown, evidently a silk handker- 
chief knotted about some articles, she slips the 
book into it and puts the package beside her on 
the stairs. Then with her elbozvs on her knees 
and her chin in her hands, she waits. Noticing 
that her arms are bare, her sleeves having fallen 
back, she tries to cover them. Then as if real- 
ising her undressed condition, she rises quickly 
as though she had decided to change her gown 
and turns up the stairs. But thinking better of 
it, she sits again and her eye then falls on the 
button in the wall zuhich puts out the lights. 
She reaches down and touches it and the lights 
go out. Again for a moment the stage is silent, 
then somebody is heard at the door. The person 
enters and closes it behind them. She speaks to 

133 



RUST 

him in a strained voice — half whisper, half 
speech.) 

Are you there ? Take this. It makes us quits. 
I must not see you again. I shall remember 
what you said to me. I was never to think for 
a moment you weren't on the level with me. I 
shall never think it as long as I live. Good-by. 

{There is a sound of a quick movement and the 
lights go up suddenly, disclosing the back of 
a man zvho has come forivard and turned 
them on. As the two catch sight of each 
other, she stands staring at him petrified and 
he starts back into the holhvay. The man is 
Nicholas. ) 

CURTAIN. 



134 



ACT FOUR 



ACT IV. 

(Curtain discloses the picture with which the 
last act ended.) 

Nicholas: You? (Judith, her eyes dilated, 
gases at him unrealizingly and looks unldly up 
at the stairs imth the primary instinct of flight. 
Then she turns her eyes to him again. He now 
speaks to her in a quiet voice of command.) 
Come down. 

(Judith, after a moment, descends slowly and 
walks draggingly to the mantel. Against 
this she leans for support. The sudden en- 
counter has plainly been too much for her 
physical strength. He follozvs her and puts 
the bag on the table — and turns facing her, 
waiting in silence for her to begin.) 
Judith (Lifelessly, zvith a catch of her 
breath) : How did you come? 
Nicholas: I got a lift out. 
Judith (Still in the same lifeless voice) : I 
didn't see how you could get here by train. 

Nicholas (Without either sternness or kind- 
ness, but desirous of giving her time to recover 
herself) : I thought you would be at the party. 

Judith (Speaking still as if she had a zveight 
on her breath) : The others went. I said I had 

137 



RUST 

a headache. I suppose you — you want to hear 
all. (He does not answer — she goes on.) What 
a stupid thing to say. But — I am getting my 
mind together. Some of it will wound you. I 
should like to spare you that part of it. Must 
I tell you all ? 

Nicholas (In his neutral voice of withhold- 
ing judgment) : Spare me nothing. (She goes 
and sits left.) 

Judith : It has been going on all summer, 
from the day I met him. 

Nicholas : Him ? Martini ? 

Judith : Yes. He came here to look up some 
property. I helped him with it. By accident — 
but I took advantage of it. I cheated you to 
get money to give to him. 

Nicholas (Slowly) : There must be no need 
of going into this again. Tell me how. 

Judith : I bought clothes on the bill and sold 
them. 

Nicholas : To whom ? 

Judith : To Mrs. Bradley-Stone. 

Nicholas: Yes. 

Judith : The business grew on our hands 

Nicholas: Ours? 

Judith : His and mine. 

Nicholas: Oh, you meant you gave him 
money in that way? 

Judith : Yes, we decided (Her mind iixed 

on the main point) But all that doesn't matter. 

Nicholas : Everything matters. 

Judith : We planned to put the clubhouse on 

138 



RUST 

the property. And when it was moved, open up 
the old grounds into building lots. 

Nicholas (Thinking it out) : The old 
grounds. Then the post office 

Judith : That was why I asked you to get it 
changed. 

Nicholas (More sternly than before, hut still 
neutrally) : To use my influence. Yes. 

Judith : So things went on. All the plans 
were successful. But to-night I felt our rela- 
tions — his and mine — must be broken off abrupt- 
ly. Something happened. 

Nicholas: What was it? 

Judith : I am coming to that. I felt that I 
must get free of him entirely. He had advanced 
me money. 

Nicholas: For what? 

Judith : For building the sea-wall. I told you 
we were partners. We did not expect to have 
to get it underway at once, before we got the 
other money. And the time was not ripe to put 
the club grounds on the market. 

Nicholas (Grimly) : Because you had not yet 
arranged about the post office. I see. 

Judith: Yes. (Going back and beginning 
over again) He had advanced the money. I 
could not merely make him a present of my in- 
terest and end it that way. He had incurred 
heavy expenses and he could not realize on my 
share yet. Not until the club paid us for the new 
property. Besides he had borrowed already as 



139 



RUST 

much as he could. So if I was to end it all at 
once I must give him my half of the advances. 

Nicholas : Why must you end it all at once ? 

Judith : I am coming to that. So in my room 
I thought of a way to get the money. The fund 
Miss Ewing has been collecting. 

Nicholas: What must she have thought! 
What excuse had you to make to her? 

Judith {Without faltering) ; I did not bor- 
row it. 

Nicholas: Good God! 

Judith : She had showed me the box in her 
trunk. Where she put the subscriptions as they 
came in. She kept the key under the mattress. 

Nicholas {Incredibly) : You took it? 

Judith : Yes ; most of it. 

Nicholas {Quietly and searchingly, hut as if 
it were unbelievable) : You — my wife ! 

Judith : Yes. 

Nicholas {In despair) : Deceiving me all 
these months — cheating me. But at least you 
were stealing from me. Now 

Judith : And that is not all. 

Nicholas: No. {Very gravely and slowly) 
Nor is it all that you have made a tool of me. 
You have made me an accomplice. {She stares 
at him in surprise) You got me to use my in- 
fluence to further a private scheme. If it were 
known that my wife had financially benefited 
by the removal of the post office I should forfeit 
every decent man's respect. As it is, I have for- 
feited my own. You have degraded me ! 

140 



RUST 

Judith (Springing up — zvitli the first emo- 
tion she has shozvn) : Oh, Nicholas, I beg you to 
believe I never thought of that ! I never dreamed 
of it! 

Nicholas (Bitterly) : No. You simply wanted 
to succeed. And I was a tool close at hand, 
and, as it happened, just the thing you could 
use. Could you not have left me out of it? 
Your husband whom you were deliberately de- 
ceiving and cheating all the time? It fills me 
with shame. 

Judith : Nicholas, 1 — I do not know what to 
say. I am overwhelmed. 

Nicholas : That is no worse than the rest, 
except that there was more at stake. In each 
instance you have made me contribute to your 
schemes — schemes that you knew I would hold 
in abhorrence. You used my position as a mem- 
ber of this community to get the post office you 
would privately profit by. What would any 
public man say to that? You manipulated me 
as a member of the club to sell some property 
you had secretly bought. What would any of 
the members — your other dupes — say to that? 
You systematically cheated your husband to 
make the money to engage in speculations you 
knew he would not have permitted. Can you 
deny it? 

Judith : I have no wish to deny anything, 
Nicholas. 

Nicholas: And with a common sharp and 
blackleg. Since he was becoming so intimate 

141 



RUST 

here I had him looked up. 1 meant to tell you 
before I kicked him out. And now — my wife to 
be hand-and-glove with him in his dirty schemes ! 

Judith : What he may have been and done 
with others I do not know. But with me he has 
been honest and a gentleman. 

Nicholas : A gentleman ! 

Judith : Yes, in heart — a chivalrous gentle- 
man. But I tell you the blame is mine. Let us 
leave him out of the question. At least out of 
this part of it. 

Nicholas: This part of it? What do you 
mean ? 

Judith : I mean as far as our business inter- 
ests went, I was the ringleader. Making use of 
his practical knowledge to help myself. 

Nicholas : To help yourself ? Why ? To 
what ? 

Judith {Vehemently) : To get out. 

Nicholas (Alarmed and bezinldered) : Out of 
what? 

Judith : This dead stagnation of doing noth- 
ing ! This utter emptiness of life ! 

Nicholas : We have spoken of this before, 
Judith. I thought you saw then how inexpressi- 
bly painful it was to me — to know that your 
husband's life and home did not content you. 

Judith (Wearily) : Yes, we have talked of 
this before. But you asked me why I did it 
and I told you. 

Nicholas (Sorrowfully) : And you see what 
it has led to. Deception, trickery, and now — 

142 



RUST 

(suddenly) Thank God, you were saved from be- 
coming a thief ! 

Judith (Soberly) I have not been saved! I 
am a thief. In your sight and in mine. 

Nicholas (Despondently) : Yes. It has led 
you to all of them — deception, trickery and theft. 

Judith : Nicholas, I do not wish to defend 
myself. But I must make things plain between 
us. The deception you have made necessary. 
I regret it, but I could do nothing else. I have 
a right to my life as well as you. 

Nicholas : Your life ! 

Judith : The trickery I regret also. But it 
was only common business practice. The ugly 
part was that I couldn't do it openly. That, 
too, was made necessary by you. The stealing 
from your purse I admit. Nothing should have 
made me stoop to that. I should have told you 
I would no longer put up with being penniless. 

Nicholas (Slowly) : It fills me with horror 
to see how adroit your mind has become. In 
finding plausible excuses — as little by little you 
have gone on from bad to worse. You admit 
you should not have stolen from me. How about 
— the other ? Can you defend that ? 

Judith : No, Nicholas ; but that was not caused 
by anything that went before. That was what I 
meant when I said I wanted to spare you pain. 

Nicholas (Laughing hardly) : Good God, has 
there not been pain ! To find my wife guilty of 
all this! Of discontent with her husband's 
home ! Of peddling his property ! Of trading 

143 



R U ST 

upon his honor ! A husband who got you every- 
thing you wanted — my God ! I was bringing 
home to you to-night the post office — because 
you said you wanted it. 

Judith : I told you, Nicholas, I had not fore- 
seen that. And if I had known it beforehand, I 
would have done anything rather than that. I 
beg of you to believe me. But at the time — be- 
fore I began telling you all this — I thought that 
only one thing would wound you. I knew the 
rest would shock and outrage you, shake you to 
the soul. But I thought only one thing would 
really wound you — in your heart. I am not so 
sure about that now. 

Nicholas: What is it? 

Judith : The day we — he and I — got the idea 

for the post (She breaks off) Believe me, 

he knew nothing about what I thought of doing. 
He only said we must try to get it moved. He 
does not know yet that I spoke to you. — That 
day I saw — he cared for me. It was the day I 
was coming to your office. I wanted to confess 
everything. 

Nicholas (Wincing) : I thought it was be- 
cause I left without saying good-by to you. 

Judith : You had no right to think that was 
all. I told you there was something else. I 
tried to tell you afterwards, you remember. 

Nicholas: Go on. 

Judith : Then, as time passed, I saw plainly 
his — his feeling for me. He was so honest, so 
reverent about it. When such things happen to 

144 



RUST 

a woman, it is a tribute hard to pass by. And 
so — I felt grateful for it. I even gloried in it. 
Then to-night, something happened to make me 
see it in another light. 

Nicholas : See what ? 

Judith (Faltcringly) : That he — cared for me. 

Nicholas: But you had seen that already. 

Judith : This was different. It was before 
somebody else. 

Nicholas: Who? 

Judith : Jessica. And it was not until 

Nicholas: Until what? 

Judith : I thought I saw another woman tak- 
ing my place with him. And I found suddenly 
that I was jealous ! That came up before me — 
all at once — in a moment. And before I had 
time to see what it meant Jessica accused me. 

Nicholas (Tensely) : Of what? 

Judith : Of knowing that he loved me and let- 
ting it go on. And then he said — before her — 
that he loved me. Said it simply and respect- 
fully. And that time 

Nicholas: That time? 

Judith : I was no longer troubled by it. I was 
not even grateful any more. I was — you said I 
should tell you everything — I was — glad. When 
I found out I was glad, the floor seemed to slip 
under me. I felt I must do something at once — 
at once to end it. 

Nicholas: What was it you did? 

Judith : I told him to come back when the 
others had gone. I said I had a headache and 

145 



RUST 

went to my room. I intended there to find out 
some way to end it. Then I thought of Miss 
Ewing's money. I took it. And there you have 
it all— all. 

Nicholas (Recovering from the strain he has 
been under) : But why did you have to end it all 
at once? That moment? 

Judith : Don't you understand ? I was in a 
panic. I had found out that I was glad that he 
loved me. It seemed to me I must save myself 
at once. End our relations and never see him 
again. 

Nicholas {Persisting) : But why could you 
not have waited until morning? Have told me 
all about it and let me help you out? 

Judith : You ? You were the last one I 
wished to know. I should have told you nothing 
but for this. 

Nicholas: You would have gone on deceiv- 
ing me? 

Judith : In that — yes. I should have thought 
it best. But I should not have gone on seeing 
him. 

Nicholas (Searchingly) : Judith, do you no 
longer love me? 

Judith (After looking at him as keenly) : 
Of course I should have put him out of my 
thoughts as fast as I could, if that is what you 
mean. 

Nicholas (Taking this for an answer and 
stiffening) : Oh ! (After a moment, coldly) 

146 



RUST 

And what good has all this done you ? You still 
have the half-interest to be settled up. 

Judith (As coldly) : Yes, I see that now. 
But it can be done without my meeting him 
again. What do you propose to do? You will 
send him a check of course. 

Nicholas : A check — for what ? 

Judith (Pointing to the table) For this 
money. (Going to it and taking it) They will 
be getting home. I must replace it. (Soberly) 
Now that it is no longer necessary for any one 
to know I was a thief. 

Nicholas (To himself in agitation) : Let me 
think, let me think! (She is at the staircase) 
Come back ! (She turns qiiestioningly — he con- 
tinues slozvly and in pain ) You will give him this 
money. 

Judith (Not understanding) : But Miss 

Ewing? 

Nicholas: I will give the check to her. 

Judith (Thunderstruck) : I do not under- 
stand. 

Nicholas : We must have no more deception. 

Judith (Slozvly) : You have the right to make 
your own tenns. 

Nicholas (Dully) : I cannot connive at this. 
God knows I would shield you if i could. You 
say I have been to blame. 1 do not see it. but 
perhaps you are right. We will take the blame 
together then. 

Judith (More slozvly and zvonderingly) : So 
— that — is — your — idea ? 

147 



RUST 

Nicholas: You took this money. It was only 
a chance that you did not dehver it where you 
intended. All my life long I should feel that we 
had conspired together to conceal your guilt. 
Judith, do you not see? Let us be independent 
of accidents. Let us scorn to take advantage of 
circumstances. You knew when you took this 
money it would be found out. You were will- 
ing to undergo the humiliation, were you not? 
Very well. I will taste it with you. We will 
drink of it together. You told me that I did 
not share. I will share this, and we will begin 
our life together again, knowing that we have 
nothing to hide — that such as we are, we can 
look the world in the face. 

Judith (Catching his moral glow) : Yes, you 
are right. I will tell her. (She puts the pack- 
age on the table — as she turns from it, she lis- 
tens suddenly) Hush! (The handle of the door 
is turned stealthily and the door is opened. Bar- 
ney enters and closes it behind him. He cannot 
see who is in the room on account of the pro- 
jection.) 

Nicholas: Come in. 
(Barney looks in surprise on hearing the voice. 
Judith goes to extreme right and stands gat- 
ing in front of her, her hands instinctively 
grasping a chair for support. Nicholas 
who is looking at her, meets her glance of 
appeal. Barney, after a moment, comes 
forward into the room and seeing Judith 
pauses, wondering what to expect.) 
148 



RUST 

Barney (To Nicholas) : How are we to-night, 
huh? 

Nicholas (Sternly, but in a controlled 
voice) : There on the table you will find some 
money which Mrs. Allison owes you. Her share 
of the expenses incurred. You will wind up her 
partnership with you as soon as possible. And 
by letter to me. 

Barney (Looking in perplexity and dismay 
at Judith, who still keeps her hack to him. He 
speaks to her wistfully) : Have I done anything, 
Mrs. Alhson? What's the matter? Huh? 

Nicholas (Quickly and anxious to make it 
as easy for her as possible) : I do not wish this 
relation to continue. 

Barney (Timidly) : Is — that your wish, Mrs. 
Allison ? 

Judith (Slozvly, unthout turning) : Yes. 

Barney (To him, humbly and conciliatitigly) : 
Say, you needn't be so close about it. What 
have I done? 

Nicholas (More firmly, but restraining him- 
self on Judith's account) : Mrs. Allison has en- 
gaged in this affair without my knowledge. I 
should never have allowed it. To-night it ceases 
at once, and for all. 

Barney (Slowly) : Well, of course, you've got 
the right. Is that your wish, Mrs. Allison? 

Judith (Without turning) : Yes. 

Nicholas (Pointing to the money) : Take it. 
(Barney, zvith his eyes upon Judith, goes to the 
table and puts his hand upon the package and 

149 



RUST 

lifts it slowly. Nicholas nozv for the first time 
breaks out passionately) Now, get out of my. 
house, and never enter it again! 

(Judith, about to turn, grips the chair and forces 
herself to remain still.) 

Barney (Turning upon him angrily) : What 
do you mean ? Huh ? Huh ? Huh ? ( The tzvo 
men stand facing each other, though at some dis- 
tance. Barney goes on defiantly) Tell me what 
you've got to say ! (Still facing Nicholas he 
throzus the package down upon the table. It 
strikes the wood sharply. Barney is arrested at 
the sound and falls immediately from his trucu- 
lent attitude. He turns zvistfully to Judith again) 
What else is in it, Mrs. Allison? 

Nicholas : When my wife asked you to return 
to-night she meant to give you that. Take it, 
I tell you, and go. 

Barney (Paying no attention to him, and fal- 
teringly) : Guess I'll see what's in it first. (He 
unties the handkerchief on the table. Then 
wretchedly in a voice of expectation confirmed) 
My watch! 

Nicholas ( With amazement) : Your watch ! 
(To her in anguish) Judith? 

Barney : I pawned it to her. 

Nicholas: Pawned! 

Barney (Hotly) : You didn't expect she'd 
pinched it, did you? (He turns disconsolately to 
the table again) Oh! (He lifts the little book 
wonderingly and turns to Judith.) 

150 



RUST 

Nicholas: Take your possessions and pass 
out of our lives forever. 

Barney (Still looking at Judith) : Did you 
mean that ? When you did it up for me ? 

Judith {Without turning)'. Yes. 

Barney {Joyfully and with profound relief) : 
I see ! {In a tone which seems jocular to Nicho- 
las) All right, Mr. Allison. {He puts the book 
tenderly in his inside pocket, thrusts the money 
loosely into his coat pocket, and puts the zvatch 
in his waistcoat and affixes the chain.) 

Nicholas {To whom these operations seem 
sheer effrontery) : Have you finished ? 

Barney {Looking at him squarely) : Yes. 
{With another look at Judith, he pauses uncer- 
tainly and absently takes his zvatch from his 
pocket and fingering it, begins to wind it. No- 
ticing this, he says naively to Nicholas) You 
might tell me what time it is. {Judith bursts 
into hysterical laughter and sits down.) 

Nicholas {Infuriated at this double af- 
front) : Is it not enough that you come skulking 
into my house — but you must go swaggering out 
of it ! You and your dirty schemes no honest 
man would touch ! You low-lived sharper and 
trickster! {Judith, fearing an outbreak on Bar- 
ney's part rises instinctively.) 

Barney {Good-humoredly) : It's the Irish in 
me. {Emphasizing his brogue) The fine nose 
for business it will be christened some day. 
When I move down on Wall Street. Next to 
you! 

151 



R U ST 

Nicholas (More angrily): How dare you! 
Compare your trickery to my business methods! 
You and your peanut swindles! 

Barney (Still good-humoredly, hut with a 
note of warning in his voice) : That's the Eye- 
taHan cropping out. I served me apprenticeship 
in the fruit-peddhng industry. But in time I'll 
get to large legitimate deals — like yours. 

Nicholas: You 

Judith (Breaking in peremptorily) : Good 
night, Mr. Martini I 

Nicholas (Stung by her implication that he 
is not conducting himself fitly) : Not content 
with using my wife as a cat's-paw ! With cor- 
rupting her loyalty! Making her trade upon 
her friendships and her husband's honor ! Now 
you must attack my reputation! 

Judith (Seeking to stop him) : Nicholas! 

Nicholas (Beside himseli) : My reputation. 
That I must shelter her with. Since you have 
made her a common thief. 

Barney (Furiously) : What? Who says so? 

Nicholas (Realising that he has said too 
much hut not knotting hoiv to get out of it) : 
Leave my house ! 

Barney: What do you mean? Huh? Huh? 
Huh? 

Nicholas (Doggedly) : Her eyes opened at 
last, she stole that money to get rid of you. 

Judith (Sinking hopelessly into a chair) : Oh, 
Nicholas, Nicholas ! 

Barney : Stole it ? Well, what of it ! A man's 

152 



RUST 

pocket is his wife's — as my mother used to say 
when she helped herself. (In an exaggerated 
brogue he pretends to be quoting from her) 
''It's the dir-rty spalpeen as would lay that name 
to his wife for taking- her own." 

Nicholas (Making the application) : It was 
before I returned. Or none of this would have 
happened. 

Barney: Before? (Helplessly) From some 
one in the house? (Energetically) Man, man, 
what are you doing! Here! (Running to Ju- 
dith he tries to cram the money into her hand.) 

Judith (Rising and retreating) : No! 

Barney: Quick. Put it back. (Following 
her) : Before they come. 

Judith (Crying out instinctively for aid) : 
Nicholas ! 

Nicholas : Stop ! She shall not put it back. 

Barney : Not ? 

Nicholas: We have talked it over. She is 
ready to face the consequences. And I with her. 

Barney (Frantically): The consequences? 
The consequences? But there will be no conse- 
quences. 

Nicholas (Loftily) : Of course you could not 
understand. 

Barney : What ? 

Nicholas : That I cannot — that she would not 
have me connive at this. That we feel the need 
of expiation. 

Barney: Expiation? Rats! You talk like 
a kid. You would call her a thief before the 

153 



RUST 

world? To tickle your mush of a conscience? 
You better feed it with something else than your 
wife ! You aren't worth licking her shoes. 
{Pleadingly) Take it, Madonna ! Mavourneen ! 

Judith : No ! 

Barney {Turning on him furiously) : This is 
your work. She's got too much sense for that 
stuff. Come, be a man. Tell her to take it. 

Nicholas {In exaltation) : No; we cannot af- 
ford to dodge the results. The thing itself we 
cannot undo — but we can atone together. 

Barney {Striding up and down, beside him- 
self with anger) : Mush ! Mush ! I'll tell you 
what you can't afford to do. To look your sniv- 
eling self in the face. If you did, you'd see 
there that you want to pamper your own right- 
eousness. Porco dio ! corpo di Baccho ! No, you 
must not connive at it ! If you did, you might 
soil your own pretty fingers. And what she's 
done mightn't seem so big when you threw it up 
to her. Porco Santo Francesco ! Corpo di Bac- 
cho ! That she should be at the mercy of such a 

pig' 

Judith : Barney ! 

Barney {Stopping suddenly — his face light- 
ing up as he realises that she has called him by 
his first name. He answers in his tone of ador- 
ing respect) : Madonna ! 

Judith {Softly, but in a clear final voice) : 
I want you to go now. 

Barney {Pleadingly) : I can't go until he tells 
me he will stop this damn foolishness. 

154 



RUST 

Judith : He will not tell you. And I do not 
wish it. 

Barney: You? 

Judith (After a moment) : What he wishes, 
I wish. 

Barney (To Nicholas) : Then promise me 
you will sleep on it. Stuff it in your pillow and 
pound your ear on it. Only look in the glass 
before you do and see if what I say ain't so. 

Nicholas (Coldly) : We will attend to our 
own affairs — my wife and I. You have come 
between us long enough. 

Barney (Suddenly) : What do you mean — by 
come between you? 

Judith (Quickly interposing) : Nicholas, all 
this is a mistake. I forbid you to go on. I will 
bear no more. 

Barney (Seeing his meaning from her tone) : 
You mean because — because I worship the 
ground she walks on ? What's that to you ! Do 
you suppose you could stop a man's worshiping 
her just because you married her? She's the 
only one that can stop it. 

Nicholas (Defiantly but miserably) : And she 
hasn't tried! 

Barney : Praise be the Holy Saints she hasn't. 
What's it to her! And I'm asking you, what's 
it to you? You're the ace in this deck. Noth- 
ing's going to touch you — more's the pity. Will 
you take this money? 

Nicholas: No. 

Barney: Will you sleep on it? 

155 



RUST 

Nicholas: No. 

Barney (Sitting down) : Then here I stay all 
night. I want to be in at the killing. (Coolly) 
What you going to do about it? If you make 
a row it will be worse for her. If you try to 
kick me out it will be worse for you. And to 
outstay your welcome ain't a shooting offence. 
So I guess Fm safe. 

Judith (After a momem, coming to him) : 
Barney. 

Barney (Still sitting) : I know I'm a brute 
for not doing what you want. But I can't. 

Judith : I am going to tell you something. I 
took that money because I wanted never to see 
you again. Because I found out something to- 
night that made me afraid. I had gloried in 
your love for me, but when I saw you with Jes- 
sica I was angry and I saw suddenly what that 
might mean and that it should not go on. I 
did not want you to know this. But now I see 
that you will understand. And I know that you 
will treat it as a sacred confidence and deal 
chivalrously with my secret. I have no fear of 
you. As for the rest, my husband and I must be 
free to do what we think is right. Will you go 
now? 

Barney ( Who has risen adoringly during her 
speech, solemnly) : Yes. 

Judith (Holding out her hand) : Good-by. 

Barney (Taking her hand) : I want you to 
know you're the best thing that ever happened 
to me. You make me proud. 

156 



RUST 

Judith (Simply) : Thank you. And I shall 
be proud of you. Because my husband sees 
things differently you must not misjudge him. 
And because he has led a different life, he will 
not misjudge you. In one thing you stand on 
even footing. You have both dealt always hon- 
orably by me. I should like you to shake hands 
with my husband before you go. Will you, 
Nicholas ? 

Nicholas {Who has had his back to them, 
turns — understanding what she means to convey 
by this) : Yes. 

Barney {In some happy bewilderment at this 
contact with a higher code than he knozvs of) : 
Say, I guess I don't know much. I ain't used 
to this. 

{The door opens with a noise of chatter disclos- 
ing Mrs. Bradley-Stone, Sam, Jessica, and 
Miss Ezmng.) 

Mrs. B. {In the doorway) : Yes, he says he 
is. Didn't you hear him say he's always glad 
to be kept up by his wifey ? 

Sam : Aw, cut it out ! 

Jessica {Coming in ahead of them, and look- 
ing at Judith and Barney curiously) : Why, Mr. 
Allison. You got home too late, didn't you? 
And Mr. Martini here again? Mrs. Allison, I 
see your headache is better. 

Miss E. : Did you have a headache, dear? 
{To Jessica) I thought it was business with Mr. 
Martini. 

Jessica {With just a slight indication of con- 



RUST 

fusion, though self-possessed) : No, Aunt. I 
said that some business with Mr. Martini must 
have given her a headache. Shall I put these 
away now? 

Miss E. : Yes, please. (Jessica goes up the 
stairs.) 

Mrs. B. {Coming down) : You were well out 
of it. Such a stupid time. 

Miss E. {Enthusiastically) : Stupid? I got 
three subscriptions. 

Mrs. B. {Going to chair at extreme right) : 
Please come and take off my shoes, Mr. Mar- 
tini. 

Barney: Sure. {He goes and kneels in front 
of her.) 

Miss E. : So you got back to-night, Mr. Alli- 
son? 

Mrs. B. {To Barney in a low voice) : Victory! 
I landed him to-night. Now we have the ma- 
jority on the Board and you get the money at 
once. 

Barney: Good. {He busies himself with the 
shoes. ) 

Judith {Who has exchanged a glance with 
Nicholas, comes to Miss Ewing) : We have 
something to say to you — Nicholas and I — 
when Mr. Martini and the rest go. 

Barney {Rising) : I think I'll say good night, 
ladies and gentlemen. {He starts toward the 
door.) 

Jessica {Running down the stairs in excite- 
ment) : Why, Aunt 1 Aunt ! The box is gone ! 

158 



RUST 

Miss E. : Gone! The subscription box? 

Barney: Yes. I took it. Here it is. {He 
thrusts the money into Miss Ewing's hand.) 

Judith {In a ringing voice) : Mr. Martini ! 
{Barney stops, confused and shamefaced) : He 
took it when I gave it to him, Miss Ewing. That 
was what Nicholas and I had to tell you. I stole 
the money. 

Miss E. {Incredibly) : You? 

Judith : Yes. 

Nicholas: But I, too! We needed it desper- 
ately to-night — and she took it for me. 

Barney : Because I made a howl for it and 
threatened them. 

Judith : Neither of them made me, Miss Ew- 
ing. They knew nothing about it. I alone am 
guilty. I got the key from under the mattress 
and the box is in my room. Some money is still 
in it — the rest is there. 

Mrs. B. : Well, I must say, Judith 

Miss E. : You took my money ? Worse than 
mine. A sacred trust for humanity! 

Judith : Yes. 

Miss E. : You with your money ? All you 
could possibly use in your private purse 

Nicholas {Poignantly): No, no! That is 
where I am to blame. 

Miss E. : What made you ? It must be some 
taint of heredity. 

Judith : No. I had my reasons. But they 
excuse nothing. I do not wish to hide behind 



159 



RUST 

them. I vStole to attain my object — like any 
thief. 

Jessica: What was your object? I think 
Aunt has a right to know. 

Miss E. (With dignity) : Jessica! Let us re- 
spect Judith's reasons. 

Jessica: But we can't help wondering. And 
they may have been good ones. 

Miss E. : Good ones ? Good enough to 

(Sorrowfully) You see, Judith, how it confuses 
the standard of right and wrong! When a per- 
son like you stoops to such a thing. Jessica ad- 
mires you so that you have vitiated her notions 
of common propriety. You will understand, 
then, that this te'rrible disclosure leaves me no 
choice. I can't have my child corrupted. We 
must leave by the first train in the morning. 
(She starts to go) And to spare us needless 
pain, I hope you will keep to your room till we 
go. Come, Jessica. (She gets to the stairs) 
Rest assured your secret is safe with us. Unless 
of course ordinary honesty to others should force 
us to reveal it. (She goes up the stairs and mid- 
way turns to Jessica^ who is lingering with a 
curious look on Barney.) Come, Jessica. (Jes- 
sica unwillingly follows.) 

Jessica (As her aunt disappears, turning 
midway on the stairs) : I believe they were good 
ones, don't you, Mr. Martini? 

Mrs. B. (Coming forward from right where 
she has been since the discovery) : Well, I must 
say, Judith! This is a pretty mess. This is 

i6o 



RUST 

what comes of your business training, I suppose. 
I knew something was in the wind when you 
were squeezing all that money out of me. I told 
you then that you ought to be ashamed of your- 
self. Deceiving your husband so. But I didn't 
think it would get to this. 

Sam (Going deliberately in front of her) : 
Aw, cut it out! (He holds out his hand to Ju- 
dith, who takes it.) Good night, Judith. 

Mrs. B. : Yes, you were always standing up 
for her. Suppose / deceived you like that ! 

Sam (Turning suddenly) : Like what? 

Mrs. B. (Blankly — seeing she is in a hole) : 
Selling her husband's things. At less than he 
paid for them. (She stops, seeing she is making 
it worse.) 

Sam (Sternly) : What'd you have to do with 
it? (She hesitates.) Out with it! 

Mrs. B. : Well, it was none of my business if 
she wanted to sell me clothes. 

Sam : Better make it none of your business 
now. 

Mrs. B. (Much irritated) : None of my busi- 
ness ! It's everybody's business. She's a miser 
I tell you — she doesn't care how she gets money 
so she gets it. There's no knowing what she'll 
do next. People ought to be protected. 

Sam : See here, my lady I You're just ten 
months in the hole with me. If I hear of your 
saying anything about this, you can whistle for 
a red cent of mine. 

Mrs. B. : Oh, that's your game, is it ? Shield- 

i6i 



RUST 

ing her at your wife's expense. When you've 
been fooled Hke the rest of them. I bet if the 
truth were known she engineered that whole 
club business. (Suddenly to Barney) That's 
the reason she's been so thick with you. (To 
Sam) What do you think of that for your para- 
gon? 

Barney (Playing his trump card with joyous 
deliberation) : Yes, she had something to do 
with it. She started it and let you do all the 
work. Being on the Board of Directors. 

Mrs. B. : What ! Then I've just been pulling 
her chestnuts out all the time ! When I thought 
I was working for the good of the club. To be 
advancing your swindles. (Barney and Sam 
chuckle) Me a — a puUer-in for you ! Oh, you'll 
get your pay for this ! 

Barney: Don't fret, so will you. The ten 
per cent, commission I promised you. 

Mrs. B. (Staggered) : I might have known 
you couldn't keep your word like a gentleman. 

Barney (Jocularly) : It's all in the family. 

Sam : I'm going to bed. 

Mrs. B, : Do you think I'd sleep another night 
under her roof? Mr. Allison, I am deeply 
grieved for you. Will you kindly lend us your 
car? Sam and I are motoring to town. 

Sam (At the foot of the stairs) : Not if I 
know it. 

Mrs. B. : I'll go alone then. 

Sam: If you do — or make any row whatever 
— I'll show you up to the Board of Directors — 

162 



RUST 

for taking a commission. Better change your 
mind and come to bed. 

Mrs. B. {Bailed) : Oh! {Sweeping her train 
about her she walks majestically but hurriedly 
up the stairs.) 

Sam : She says she won't make any row. 
Didn't you hear her say she wouldn't make any 
row? {He skips up the stairs gleefully.) 

Barney {Timidly) : You might have let me 
say I took it. 

Judith {Going to chair right and sitting 
wearily) : Thank you, Barney. It would have 
been all the same. 

Nicholas {Groaning) : Oh, what a wretched 
business ! Oh, how undignified ! To have had 
all this precipitated before her! 

Barney: Oh, she doesn't matter. {Much 
pleased with himself) I took the wind out of her 
sails all right. 

Nicholas {In helpless exasperation) : Out of 
hers? You took it out of everybody's. How 
dare you seem to wring from us a confession — 
which we had made up our minds to give freely ! 
Turning to a farce a dignified and sacred occa- 
sion! Mr. Martini, you doubtless meant well, 
but your interference was really insuflferable. 
{Pointedly) And still remains so! 

Barney : Oh, I'm going. {He looks at Ju- 
dith and goes to the door, ruefully.) Maybe I 
did make a fist of it. But she knows why and I 
ain't afraid to leave it with her. God knows, 
she'll need some consolation — now you've made 

163 



R U ST 

a thief of her! (With another thought) Mr. 
Allison, Fve said my last word to her, and now 
I'll say it to you. I don't think much of you, 
and may God forgive you for what you've done 
— ^but I'll do you one credit. You never said a 
dir-rty word to her about — my loving her. If 
you had, I'd have smashed that mule's head of 
yours ! (His voice breaks) I guess you're square 
according to your light — ^but you got a damn 
poor quality of oil. (With a sob he shuts the 
door after him.) 

Nicholas: (After a moment, diffidently): 
Well, it's all over. We're alone. 

Judith (With a smile of bitter irony) : We've 
a common interest at last. 

Nicholas (Sadly) : What do you mean? 

Judith : Something you can understand me 
in. At least that much has been gained. An 
hour ago I should have said it was impossible. 

Nicholas (Wincing, and speaking in a stiff 
grave voice) : My dear — If you mean him, I 
think I may say I do understand. 

Judith (Still with bitter irony) : Oh, him, 
too ! That makes another interest that we share. 
I was speaking of our common expiation. Does 
it strike you, Nicholas, that even with the best 
of men the woman always gets the worst of it? 
Thanks to your arrangement, we expiate my sin 
together — but I answer for yours all alone. 

Nicholas (Troubled) : My dear. Very hum- 
bly I ask you what is my sin? 

Judith (Rising wearily) : Oh, nothing, noth- 

164 



RUST 

ing! We have been all through it before. (SJie 
goes back a little.) 

Nicholas {Gently and sadly) : I was not to 
blame that it did not turn out as I thought. I 
meant that we should join hands together and 
begin a new life. That is what it should have 
been. 

Judith (Laughing nervously): Oh, that! 
(He winces) Excuse me, Nicholas. But I do 
not think that I can bear any more. 

Nicholas (Deeply wou7ided) : No. You are 
tired of course. 

(Some one taps at the window.) 

Judith (Standing where she can see, nods 
eagerly) : Yes. (She starts tozvard the door.) 

Nicholas (Passionately) : Do not let him in. 

Judith (As she goes) : It's Uncle Harry ! 

Nicholas : Oh ! 

Judith (Opening the door) : Why, Uncle 
Harry. At this time of night. 

Dodd (Entering) : I saw the light and thought 
I'd ask you if I couldn't change my mind. Spend 
the night after all. (Whimsically) You see, I 
was anxious about my traps. (Pinching her chin 
fondly) What is it? May I not spend the 
night ? 

Nicholas (Awkwardly) : Certainly. (He 
looks at Judith in perplexity.) 

Judith : Uncle Harry, I wish you would. My 
friends are all leaving by the early train. 

Dodd: Leaving? 

Judith : Yes. How nice it will be to have you 

i6s 



RUST 

all to myself. I have given you the little room 
right next to your den. Near your precious old 
stuff. (She laughs) Everything is laid out, 
but I don't think your bed is made up. I must 
go and fix it. 

Nicholas: No, Judith, I'll ring. 

Judith : And wake them all up ? Nonsense. 
I'd love to make Uncle Harry's bed. Used to 
do it, didn't I, Colonel ? Besides, I haven't made 
a bed in years. (She goes left.) 

DoDD (Quickly turning to Nicholas): What 
is it ? Martini and Jessica ? 

Nicholas: Jessica! 

DoDD (Falter in gly) : Not — Judith? 

Nicholas (Reflecting) : You will have to 
know anyway. Judith 

DoDD (Hastily) : Perhaps she would rather 
tell me herself. 

Nicholas: No, it is best I tell you. Judith 
has been doing business with Martini. Un- 
known to me. She had to get rid of him to- 
night. And to do so, she took Miss E wing's 
money. 

DoDD : And you ? 

Nicholas: I came home in time to find it 
out. 

DoDD (Puzzled) : But they are leaving? 

Nicholas: Judith agreed with me she should 
confess all. 

DoDD : With you ? I see. 

Nicholas (Despairingly) : What else could I 
do? I could not feel all my life I had connived 

i66 



RUST 

at it. She would not respect me if I did. And 
she too ! She saw that it would be cowardly to 
take advantage of a circumstance. Now con- 
fession has purified her — has purified us both. 
Otherwise she would go all her life with that 
guilt uncleansed. 

DoDD (Slowly) : Another one of your im- 
moral moralities ! 

Nicholas (In anguish) : You think I sacri- 
ficed her to my idea of right ? You also ? 

DoDD : Who else ? 

Nicholas: That man — Martini. 

DoDD (Whimsically) : Commend me to a 
scamp for a sound conscience. There's not much 
of it, but it's healthy. Curious how disease at- 
tacks the higher forms. 

Nicholas (Passionately) : But are there no 
ideas of right and wrong? You would have had 
her go all her life with nothing to help her bear 
it — the knowledge she was a thief? 

Dodd: Allison, right and wrong dififer in 
every case, and they are matters of opinion. I 
have given you mine. (Very solemnly) And I 
give it to you from a bitter personal experience. 
I would not be the man I am if every ugly fact 
in my life were made public. (Changing testily) 
I can't afford to stir up ethics, either Christian 
or Pagan. But for Heaven's sake don't fly in the 
face of common sense — and prattle about saving 
her from the knowledge of her sin all her life. 
You've managed to fasten it on her pretty 
firmly. 

167 



RUST 

Nicholas: What do you mean? 

DoDD : There was a pubHc man in all the news- 
papers the other day for smuggling. Suppose if 
he hadn't been caught, his knowledge of guilt 
would have troubled him all his life ? 

Nicholas (Aghast) : You condone theft? 

DoDD (Warmly) : Don't be a fool, Allison! If 
she stole, she stole. I think I know what that 
means as well as you. But I believe in giving 
a sore the chance to get well without meddling. 
And you were the last person to meddle. 

Nicholas: I? 

DoDD (Coolly) : You made the sore. 

Nicholas : This is too much, Colonel. 

Dodd: No, it's only half enough. The other 
half is to stop doing it. What caused all this 
miserable muddle ? Simply that Judith had to 
have something to do. Why didn't you give her 
something to do? 

Nicholas (In bezuilderment but with irrita- 
tion) : She did what a woman has always done. 
Keep her husband's home for him. 

Dodd: No, she didn't do quite that. You 
wanted to stop her from making a bed just now 
— when she was eager to do it. You have al- 
ways stopped her. And Judith has a mind which 
is not content to make beds. I think she has 
almost as much mind as you. Would you be 
content to make beds? 

Nicholas (Doggedly) : I don't know what's 
got into women. It's the same everywhere — the 
modern malady ! 

i68 



RUST 

Dodd: Yes, thank God — your God or mine, 
Allison, I don't care! What do you expect 
women to do? Sleep away the hours like bored 
cats and dogs? — Them, too, you have taken out 
of their natural state to tame for your pleasure. 
That was all well enough when women had no 
minds to bother them. If you wanted them to 
go on sleeping, you should never have allowed 
their minds to be stirred up. 

Nicholas: But — but — a woman's natural 
business 

DoDD (Interrupting testily) : A woman's nat- 
ural business is like yours and mine, Allison ! 
Only bigger. You will pardon me, but Judith 
is not at her natural business. Lacking that, 
she must — if she is to use her healthy instincts 
— be creating something else. 

Nicholas (Groaning) : But the vulgar trick- 
ery of all this ! The deceit ! 

Dodd: Allison, heard you raked in a pile of 
money the other day. Send out cards before- 
hand? 

Nicholas (Helplessly) : But she got me to use 
my influence to move the post office — for her per- 
sonal benefit. You can't excuse that. 

Dodd: Dear me, most reprehensible. What 
does any one ask to have a post office moved 
for? 

Nicholas (More helplessly) : Oh, I could 
overlook anything — anything, but the great fact 
that she stole! 

Dodd (Surveying him curiously, but impa- 

169 



RUST 

tiently) : Bless the man ! And he calls that the 
great fact ! 

Judith (Entering) : There, Uncle Harry, 
your room's ready. Now you can get up in the 
middle of the night, if you want to, and see that 
your precious traps are safe. 

Dodd: Thank you, my dear. (Turning to Al- 
lison with a sudden idea.) Do you know what 
I'm trying to do with my traps? 

Nicholas (Without interest) : Kill flies, Miss 
Ewing — ^Judith told me. 

Dodd: Precisely. But not the way Miss Ew- 
ing believes in. Which makes me think of 
something that will be of especial interest to 
you. Would you believe it? She has her ideas 
of right and wrong in killing flies. She says that 
Providence intended flies to be slapped off one 
by one and not destroyed by the millions. Now 

my way — the blasphemous scientific way 

(He breaks off) My dear friends, I feel I am 
about to perpetrate a parable. May I? 

Judith : Of course, you silly Uncle Harry. 

Dodd: There is a little parasite which preys 
on mankind. It is found in everybody — that is, 
almost everybody. And it goes by the name of 
busy-ness. It is an insect of enormous strength 
vested in iron teeth, with which it gnaws and 
gnaws. We are powerless under it and feed it 
with ourselves, whether we will or no. The only 
thing to do is to find another parasite which 
will gnaw at it and keep it in order. There are 
plenty of parasites, but many of them are bad 

170 



RUST 

ones, which can't set to work without destroying 
better things. And we don't ahvays know the 
bad ones when we see them. Problem — To find 
the right parasite. Or to be accurate, any of the 
right ones, for, thank God, there are several of 
them also. 

Judith (In a hushed voice): Yes: There 
would be more than one for me. 

DoDD : I myself have discovered one for my 
own case. Would you like to hear about that, 
Allison? I am, I believe, a respectable member 
of society — and there are even people who look 
for good work from me yet. But when — by 
great misfortune not only to me but to others — 
I lost my first parasite, my insect of busy-ness 
went wild. It ran amuck with every decent thing 
in life. For three years it made me a sot, a 
renegade from civilization, a moral maniac. 
Then by the grace of God I found my second 
parasite and the little destroyer became an or- 
derly workman once more. (Taking a lighter 
tone) And that is why, Judy dear, I like to sleep 
near my traps. (He darts suddenly out by door 
left.) 

Judith (To herself) : He told me on purpose. 
He will understand. 

Nicholas (Humbled and broken) : And I, 
too, Judith. I see now what you meant. That 
my own actions brought all this about. And I 
see, too, that I was thinking more of myself—* 
when I made you confess. 



171 



R USX 

Judith (Slowly) : Perhaps it was best — I do 
not know. 

Nicholas : Yes, they were right. The Colonel 
(Bitterly) and Martini. 

Judith : Ah, poor Barney ! 

Nicholas (With a sob of despair) : Judith, 
do you no longer love me? 

Judith (With a glad cry) : Nicholas! Then 
you do care? 

Nicholas: Care? 

Judith (Babbling almost incoherently) : Oh, 
it was all right. It has brought us together. I 
thought you didn't. We had so little in common. 
You couldn't understand what I wanted. 

Nicholas: My dear — how could you ever 
have thought I didn't care! (He holds out his 
arms to her) : Why— you put me off when I 
asked you once before to-night. 

Judith (Laughing and crying) : Ah, but you 
didn't ask like that. (She comes to his arms.) 



curtain. 



172 



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